BAGUIO CITY – The City Council approved on first reading a proposed ordinance implementing a Carless Fridays in all local government offices in the city.
The ordinance authored by Councilor Elaine D. Sembrano stated that measure shall cover all local government offices such as the city hall and all local government offices located outside the city hall premises, particularly the City Health Services Office, the City Engineering Office, the City Library, City Buildings and Architecture Office, City Environment and Parks Management Office, City Veterinary Office, City Market offices and barangay halls.
Under the proposed ordinance, no government official, employee or client shall bring in or park his or her vehicle inside the compound of the local government offices on Fridays from 6 am to 6 pm.
Further, government vehicles shall be parked at the designated parking lot and shall not be used during the implementation of the Carless Friday.
However, exemption shall be granted to vehicles used in emergency situations such as the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) or hospital ambulances, police vehicles on patrol or on official dispatch, fire trucks, presidential vehicles on official duty and diplomatic vehicles or vehicles carrying delegates from sister cities conducting courtesy call or on official function with the local government.
The ordinance stipulated that officials and employees found to have violated the provisions of the measure shall be dealt with accordingly pursuant to the provisions of Republic Act (RA) 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards of Public Officials and Employees and its implementing rules and regulations.
On the other hand, public clients who violate the provisions of the measure shall not be attended to unless he or she removes his or her vehicle from the government office compound.
The ordinance tasked the duly authorized security guards in charge of all local government offices, including the city hall, to implement the pertinent provisions of the measure and that security personnel, for the purpose of implementing the provisions of the ordinance, may close the gates on Fridays to bar vehicles in entering the local government office compounds except those covered by the exemptions explicitly provided in the measure.
Earlier, the City Council passed Resolution No. 318, series of 2008 declaring every Friday of the week as a ‘Carless Day in Baguio City’ to coincide with the Community Service Day and for the purposes of supporting Philippine environmental programs and the clean-up drive of Baguio City.
Moreover, the City Council approved Resolution No. 303, series of 2017 which expressed the sincerest appreciation and gratitude to the University of the Philippines Baguio (UPB) for initiating the Carless Wednesday campaign, supportive of the environmental and health programs of the City of Baguio.
The local government considered the action of the UPB administration worthy of emulation, hence, merits utmost appreciation.
The ordinance was referred to a committee of the local legislative body for study and recommendation whether or not it would pass the required second and third readings.
By Dexter A. See
