BAGUIO CITY – City officials recently approved the establishment of the City Project Monitoring Council (CPMC), outlining its composition and functions and providing funds for the said purpose.
Under Ordinance No. 31, series of 2024, the CPMC shall be chaired by the City Planning and Development Coordinator, co-chaired by the head of the City Administrator’s Office and the City Director of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), City Budget Officer, president of the Liga ng mga Barangay–Baguio City chapter, executive assistants of the City Mayor’s Office, representative of the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers and representative from the United Architects of the Philippines–Summer Capital as members.
Among the functions of the CPMC include, to supervise and coordinate project monitoring activities of the City Development Council (CDC), and other departments of the city government; assist in the solution of the problems and challenges encountered in project implementation, and provide remedial actions, if any, at their respective levels; refer problems or issues to the appropriate units or upper level development councils or applicable bodies; evaluate the implementation of all local government projects and derive lessons for future planning and project implementation; provide policy direction in planning and budget allocation based on the overall status of project implementation; report on the status of project implementation to appropriate bodies for information and further action where necessary; disseminate information to the media, and to the general public regarding the status of project implementation in different areas in the city; submit period reports to the City Mayor for information and appropriate action where necessary and perform such other functions necessary or incidental to carry out the aforesaid tasks or as may be assigned by the City Development Council.
The ordinance stipulated that the CPMC shall meet once a month or as the need arises to effectively and efficiently discharge their assigned functions earlier stated.
The proposed measure mandated the allocation of adequate funding for the CPMC’s operations annually and in subsequent years to ensure the same to effectively and efficiently discharge its assigned duties.
The ordinance argued that establishing a permanent project monitoring council and funding its operation is crucial in acquiring valuable data and insights, guiding stakeholders through the project landscape funded through national or local funds with evidence-based decision-making.
Moreover, the ordinance added that the CPMC will empower decision-makers to make informed choices on the trajectory of the projects being implemented within the territorial jurisdiction of the city.
Earlier, DILG issued Memorandum Circular 2004-78 dated June 22, 2004 to operationalize Memorandum Order 175 enjoining all provinces, cities and municipalities to organize local project monitoring councils in their respective areas of jurisdictions, thus, the constitution and reconstitution of the City Project Monitoring Council through a series of executive orders. By Dexter A. See
