The city council has approved Ordinance 64, s. 2021 or the “Va-lues Restoration/ Enhancement Program of the City of Baguio.
The measure seeks to reorient public servants towards nurturing positive Filipino values alongside core values expected of government officials and employees and to promote the city’s high degree of public service and governance.
The ordinance is aligned with national government’s anti-corruption initiatives through restoration and enhancement of values among all officials and employees of the city government, the barangays, the Sangguniang Kabataan, public schools, the police, the City Fire Office, and the Baguio City Jail.
Values are principles that help one to decide what is right and wrong and how to act in various situations. These shall be based on the Civil Service Commission identified core values of patriotism, integrity, excellence, and spirituality to include Filipino and Cordillera cultural values, particularly joy and humor, adaptability and creativity, faith and religiosity, hard work and industriousness, resiliency, family orientation, and hospitality.
A team, to be chaired and co-chaired by the city mayor and vice mayor, respectively, shall work to formulate a plan and to implement the same in coordination with concerned offices and agencies; recommend legislative support measures for the improvement of programs and activities; and submit to the city mayor and the city council an annual report on the impact of the program; among other tasks.
Every department shall designate its respective focal persons, one each from the supervisory level and rank and file regardless of position and nature of appointment.
All officials and employees, regardless of appointment status, are required to attend at least one values restoration activity in a year.
An initial amount of P500,000 from any available fund source shall be appropriated in the city annual budget.
The ordinance was submitted to the office of City Mayor Benjamin Magalong for his signature.
The city council through Resolution 300, s. 2021 has expressed its strong support to the effective implementation of Republic Act 11261 or the “First Time Jobseekers Assistance Act.”
The resolution aims to highlight and intensify public awareness on the vital provisions of the law pursuant with the latter’s mandate for each relevant government agency to take specific steps for more effective implementation of the program.
President Rodrigo Duterte signed the law, which waives government fees and charges in the issuance of documents required in application for employment of first-time jobseekers, on April 10, 2019.
It mandates all government agencies and instrumentalities including government-owned and controlled corporations, local government units, and government hospitals not to collect fees or charges from a first-time jobseeker, provided, this fee or charge is in connection with the application for and the granting of license, proofs of identification, clearances, certificates or other documents required for employment.
The law does not extend to beneficiaries of the Jobstart Philippines Program under Republic Act 10869, as well as beneficiaries of other laws giving payment exemptions for the documents.
The law covers documentary requirements such as clearances from the police, National Bureau Investigation, and barangays; certificates on medical, birth, marriage, transcript of academic records from state colleges and universities; tax identification number; and unified multi-purpose identification card.
Persons found guilty of fabrication or falsification shall be liable under the Revised Penal Code. Disputes arising from the implementation of the law may be brought to the attention of the head of the agency concerned via a complaint filed by the first-time jobseeker.
In all cases, ambiguities in the interpretation of the provisions shall be interpreted in favor of the applicant or the first-time jobseeker.
The resolution mandates all barangays to carry-out the spirit of the law and to include the resolution during their general assembly meetings for dissemination and public awareness campaign.
April 26, 2024
