BAGUIO CITY – The City Council approved on first reading a proposed ordinance establishing a pool of consultants and resource persons from various fields, especially with highly technical skills, not connected with the national or city government, to help city government planners and implementers to prepare plans, programs and projects for public purposes and the granting of compensation for their participation in successful high impact development initiatives in the city.
The ordinance authored by Councilor Isabelo B. Cosalan, Jr. stated that the pertinent provisions of the proposed measure shall apply to any individual qualified and who are considered experts or authorities on the different sectors of development such as education, engineering, environment, governance, health, information technology, labor and employment, social welfare, tourism, trade and commerce, transportation and communication and urban agriculture.
The ordinance stipulates that the purposes of the measure is to provide an opportunity to qualified individuals, professionals and experts to participate in the formulation, implementation and monitoring of advance, high impact and significant development programs and projects in the city; come up with an inventory of city residents who are experts in certain fields of discipline who would be tapped for consultation on matters of public welfare and interest and promote Baguio City, being the educational center of the north as a bedrock of responsible and patriotic experts, professionals and talents in various fields of discipline.
The ordinance tasks the City Planning and Development Office to be the responsible office in the receiving, screening, evaluation and recommendation for approval of applications for accreditation as well as the custodian of records on the said matter and the same shall form part of the functions of the project development and evaluation services division.
The ordinance claims there shall be an accreditation of professionals and experts to come up with an inventory of professionals and experts and shall possess the qualifications such as a Filipino citizen and registered resident of Baguio or any city government within the Cordillera; at least 5 years’ experience in his field of expertise at the time of application; has no pending civil or criminal case relative to the exercise of his or her profession or business and has led or a major associate in the scientific research and formulation of, construction or implementation of at least one impact project of similar character in any city, national or international project.
The ordinance explains an accredited consultant or resource person shall make himself or herself readily available when the city government needs his or her services, including post-project consultation; shall perform tasks with the highest degree of ethical standards, professionalism, accountability and patriotism and shall promptly inform the office of the city chief executive and the city legislative body of any possible extraordinary event happening or that may occur as a result of the execution of certain programs or projects.
The ordinance underscores compensation for services rendered shall be pursuant with Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Budget Circular No. 2007-01 dated April 23, 2007, prescribes the guidelines on the grant of honoraria to lecturers, resource persons, coordinators and facilitators.
By Dexter A. See
Photo by Armando M. Bolislis
