March 29, 2024

Acting on the recommendation of the committee on appropriation and finance, the city council during its Monday session has realigned through Ordinance 112, s. 2020 a P15-million fund for the restoration and improvement of skating rink at Burnham Park to the redevelopment of Bayan Park project in Aurora Hill.
In his letter for realignment, Acting City Environment and Parks Management Officer Rhenan Diwas has requested that the fund be instead used for the Bayan Park redevelopment as there was already a request for funding from external sources for the master redevelopment of Burnham Park, which includes the skating rink.
In Ordinance 108, s. 2020, a P1-M project under the 2020 Annual Investment Program Disaster Risk Reduction Management Trust Fund with original title “Construction of flood control near Small World School at Lexber” was changed to “Construction of flood control at Lexber, Camp 7, Baguio City” based on the recommendation of the committee on public works.
In Resolution 442, s. 2020, the body has authorized Mayor Benjamin Magalong in behalf of the city government to enter into a memorandum of agreement with the Department of Social Welfare and Development regional office, represented by Director Leo Quintilla, for the implementation of the P4.5M supplementary feeding program for school year 2020-2021 in the city.
On its 10th cycle of implementation under the Protective Services Bureau of the DSWD, the nationwide program carries the department’s mandate in providing nutrition services at the local level through its center-based and community-based services such as the food for school and healthy start feeding program in child development centers (CDCs) formerly the day care centers.
City Social Welfare and Development Officer Betty Fangasan said around 3,000 children in the different CDCs in barangays will be benefited by the supplementary feeding program. The annual activity is to improve the health and nutrition of children in line with government’s effort in preventing malnutrition among children.
The city mayor was also authorized through Resolution 433, s. 2020 to enter into a MOA with Smart Communications, Inc. for the lease on a monthly basis of four lamp posts/areas for the latter’s micro/macro telecommunication sites, three at Burnham Park and one at Mines View Park, and for an indoor/outdoor antenna at the Baguio Convention Center.
The undertaking is aligned with the “good governance and speeding up government services” agenda of the city and towards the realization of Baguio in my Pocket Project in support to e-governance which can only be made possible by setting up additional telecommunication facilities that will strengthen and speed up wireless internet connectivity that will be available to most residents.
“Through the use of gadgets and increased wireless communication network, constituents and clients will be able to transact business electronically with the city government such as the processing of business permits,” the resolution stated.
After the negotiation, the signed MOA will be submitted to the city council for confirmation.
In Resolution 443, s. 2020, the body requested the City Human Resource Management Office to implement a compensatory day/time-off scheme for officials and employees of the city government rendering overtime services, particularly during the national state of emergency due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Compensatory day/time-off refers to the number of hours or days an employee is excused from reporting for work with full pay and benefits. It is a non-monetary benefit provided to an employee in lieu of overtime pay.
The resolution stated the continuing national state of emergency due to the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted the operations of the city government that requires adjustment of work schedules including budgetary allocation and utilization.
“with the said adjustments, local funds that can be used for overtime pay were used to emergency allowances of employees and other local related programs/activities to fight and control the proliferation of the Covid in the city,” the resolution stated.