The city council on Monday reminded anew through Resolution 510, s. 2020 the drivers and dispatchers of public utility vehicles as well as commuters in Baguio to give priority to senior citizens in boarding PUVs.
The appeal is in keeping with the time-honored Filipino practice even in stressful situation amid the Covid-19 pandemic and in observance of the provision of Republic Act 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010 for the adoption of measures whereby senior citizens are well assisted and appreciated by the community.
The act provides the provision of express and priority lanes for senior citizens in all commercial, government establishments, and public utility vehicles/facilities.
The resolution aims to avoid a similar incident which circulated in the social media of a senior citizen not properly accorded a priority privilege and even humiliated by inconsiderate passengers in one of the jeepney stations in the city, which was witnessed by the jeepney driver and dispatcher but did not do anything to pacify or remind the complaining passenger about an existing city’s policy on prioritizing senior citizens in PUV queues which they are expected to know.
In fairness also to the queuing public, the resolution reminded the senior citizens to be considerate to take or have one or limited companions/assistants/helpers or alalay especially when taking jeepney rides.
Through Ordinance 129, s. 2020, the concerned offices of the city government were tasked to identify the landslide prone areas from the result of the mapping conducted by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau that are feasible for tree planting.
The ordinance aims to mitigate the effects of landslide and to increase forest cover of the city, through tree planting activity on vulnerable areas also to contribute in containing climate change.
Funds for the implementation of the ordinance shall come from the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.
The body commended through Resolution 508, s. 2020 government worker Alexander Ortega for his exemplary display of honesty in returning the P256,000 he found to its owner.
Ortega, employee of the City Veterinary and Agriculture Office, found along the road to the Slaughterhouse last Aug. 21 a plastic bag containing cash with no other documents to identify the owner.
He kept the money and after validating the rightful owner immediately asked the help of their office and had the money returned to the owner Sugar Rose Aglusolos. The money was supposed to be used for the purchase of one week-long supply of beef to be sold in the city, but was accidentally lost by the owner’s trusted aide.
The resolution said Ortega’s inspiring trustworthy character in this time of social and economic crises is worthy of emulation, and that despite the financial challenges he is facing never tempted to keep the money he found.
April 25, 2024
