The City Council recently reported its accomplishments as a collegial body for the first semester of the year.
Secretary to the Sanggunian lawyer Brenner Bengwayan stated that from January 2 to June 21, 2024, the body was able to make significant strides with the enactment of some 35 ordinances and 394 resolutions.
He claimed that the legislative achievements demonstrate the council’s commitment to serving the people and driving progress in various aspects of governance.
Some of the most notable legislations that were passed included Ordinance No. 2, series of 2024 which institutionalized the Baguio City Cosplay festival annually on October 31 featuring cultural performances and family-oriented activities along Session road, promoting inclusivity and creativity within the cosplay community; Ordinance No. 3, series of 2024 which mandated writers, authors and publishers in Baguio to provide copies of their books to the Baguio city Public Library, preserving local literary works for public education and research; Ordinance 5, series of 2024 which established the Baguio city Local Blood Council to promote voluntary blood donation and ensure a stable supply of safe blood, enhancing public health and emergency preparedness; Ordinance No. 7, series of 2024 that institutionalized the Matakal Jen Obda skills festival annually, promoting skills development, technical-vocational education and local entrepreneurship; Ordinance No. 15, series of 2024 which institutionalized the Ecological Waste Management and Sustainability fair quarterly to promote sustainable waste management practices and reduce waste management cost; Ordinance No. 18, series of 2024 which institutionalized the clean As You go practice in food serving establishments to promote cleanliness and hygiene, fostering good citizenship and dining etiquette; Ordinance No. 25, series of 2024 which institutionalized Health Workers Day on May 7 annually to honor health workers contributions and promote their welfare and professional development; and Ordinance No. 31, series of 2024 which established the City Project Monitoring council to oversee and evaluate local development projects, enhancing project monitoring and decision-making processes.
On the council’s contribution to the local government’s 7-point agenda, the council also passed ordinances and resolutions across the same that include 8 legislations on environment, land use and energy; 2 legislations on climate change and disaster resilience; 18 legislations on urban regeneration; 5 legislations on empowering the youth; 2 legislations on economic recovery and development; 1 on Smart City management and 45 legislations on good governance.
In summary, he noted that the council passed approximately 81 ordinances and resolutions from January 2 to June 24, 2024 in support of the local government’s 7-point agenda.
Among the 7-point agenda, good governance had the most legislations enacted by the body.
Bengwayan pointed out that by enacting numerous laws under the said agenda, the council demonstrates its unwavering commitment to upholding efficiency and principles of integrity and ethical governance.
Further, the focus on good governance reportedly reflects on the council’s dedication to fostering a transparent and accountable government, ensuring that the operations of the city are conducted with the highest standards of efficiency and integrity.
According to him, the emphasis on good governance not only enhances public trust but also promotes a responsive and effective government that diligently serves the needs and interests of the Baguio community
On the other hand, the council’s standing committees conducted nine public consultations during the said period to refine and improve the proposed ordinances of the members.
Moreover, legislative monitoring and evaluation are consistently conducted to assess the effectiveness in the implementation of local laws. Based on the said evaluation, necessary amendments or new legislations may be introduced to address any concerns or issues identified.
During the first half of the year, the legislative monitoring and evaluation section of the research division successfully monitored and evaluated 12 ordinances and 9 resolutions.
The council was also able to accredit six civil society organizations, strengthening community engagement and participation in local governance.
Bengwayan said that the council took it upon itself to empower both grassroots officials and those in office where it organized a seminar for all members of the Lupong Tagapamayapa from city’s 128 barangays where the same was aimed to equip participants with the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively fulfill their roles. By Dexter A. See