BAGUIO CITY – Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong issued Executive Order (EO) No. 11, series of 2020 that reorganized the city’s Search and Screening Committees for the Search for Outstanding Citizens of Baguio (SOCOB) 2020 and redefining its functions for the said purpose.
The Search Committee shall be composed of Sonia A. Daoas – Chairperson and Raquel Verzosa, Liza Agoot, Patricia Anne Gallardo-Marcelo and Dra. Rowena Pascual as members while the Screening Committee will be composed of Arch. Rafael Chan – Chairperson and Janie Cosalan, Rosalind Camat, Dr. Jose Bugayong, Esther K. Litilit, Dr. Priscilla Macansantos and Dr. Joanne Balderas as members.
Under the order, the Search Committee is mandated to disseminate information on the conduct of the search, utilizing all possible means; accept and review the completeness of each submittal based on the checklist provided; submit all nominations to the Screening Committee not later than June 15, 2020; request the nominee or nominator to submit any lacking documents, and to accept them, provided that, they are submitted before the prescribed deadline and after the deadline, no more nominations or documents may be accepted and prepare a summary of all nominations and documents shall be submitted to the Screening Committee.
On the other hand, the Screening Committee shall review and validate the information in the nomination forms submitted; prepare a summary of their findings for all the nominees who submitted all the required documents as per checklist; submit the summary to the Judging Committee, together with all the documents and not to screen out any nominee who submitted all the required documents, neither shall they rate, rank or make any short-list.
Ordinance No. 22, series of 2016 institutionalized the annual SOCOB made it a continuing program of the local government.
Section 2(a) of the aforesaid ordinance authorizes the City Mayor to designate the specific individuals to compose the city’s Search and Screening committees for the said important activity of the local government.
Further, Ordinance No. 37, series of 2008 which further amended Ordinance No. 040, series of 1998 institutionalized the SOCOB and making the same a continuing program of the local government as amended by Ordinance No. 019, series of 1999.
Pursuant to the aforesaid ordinance, the SOCOB, a duly registered entity composed of previous Baguio Charter Day awardees and duly accredited by the City Council, shall formulate the guidelines, rules and regulations in the conduct of the selection of outstanding citizens and groups from among the nominations submitted by the city Search Committee.
Nomination forms have been made available by the SOCOB with the City Mayor’s Office and the Cordillera office of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) and that the deadline for the submission of nominations will be on or before June 15, 2020 in the aforesaid offices.
Qualified nominees must be bonafide resident of Baguio City for at least 10 years, though not necessarily continuous, but still maintains ties with the city; must be a person of integrity and good moral character; must not have been a previous Baguio Day awardee and must have significantly contributed to the welfare, development, growth and prestige of the city or its constituents by directly and actively initiating or implementing projects and programs.
By DEXTER A. SEE
Photo: Adjudged winners of the Search for Outstanding Citizens of Baguio pose for a photo opportunity during the launching of this year’s search. Nominations for 2020 will be accepted on or before June 15, 2020. Rosalia T. See
