BAGUIO CITY – Members of the city council agreed that they will have continuing deliberations on the pertinent provisions of the proposed environment code for their remaining sessions for the local legislative body to pass the code prior to the end of their term on June 30, 2016.
In order to have an orderly discussion of the pertinent provisions of the environment code, the councillors also agreed that the dwell on the code on a per book for every session until they will be able to dispose of the 7-volume environment code.
However, the council directed the city planning and development office to submit to the local legislative body the final version of the proposed comprehensive land use plan of the city so that councillors will have the sufficient reference in deliberating the code’s provisions related to land use.
The proposed environment code is currently on second reading after publication where amendments from individual members are being entertained by the committee on environmental preservation and health and sanitation for the refinement of its provisions so that it will conform with existing laws, rules and regulations.
It was learned that the proposed environment code of the city has been pending with the city council since 2003 when it was first submitted for deliberations but it is still undergoing deliberations amidst the passage of time.
The councilors said that their comments, suggestions and recommendations for the improved version of the environment code will be interjected during their scheduled deliberations so that the committee and the technical working group will be asked to render their positions whether or not to include in the final version of the code such proposals.
The chairman of the committee on environment suggested that all members of the city council submit their respective positions on the proposed environment code and the provisions that must be amended, together with their suggested stand, so that the technical working group will sit down and render their position whether or not to adopt and include in the final version of the proposed code.
Earlier, environmentalists in the city submitted to the council a position paper expressing their support for the immediate passage of the proposed environment code and expressing satisfaction on the existing provisions of the local legislative measure that would contribute in improving the state of the city’s environment.
The environment code seeks to regulate the use of the available resources in the city in order to help in efforts of both the national and local government to preserve and protect the environment through sustainable programs and projects that will be beneficial to the present and future generation of local residents.
By Dexter A. See
