The City Council, during last Monday’s regular session, approved on first reading mandating the alignment of project proposals with city development plans and strategies.
Under the proposed ordinance, all project proposals and feasibility studies shall be prepared one year ahead before project implementation.
The ordinance outlined the necessary steps that must be strictly observed in the preparation of project proposals of various projects that must be aligned with the approved city development plan.
Among the steps include that the project priority list shall be prepared by the City Planning Development Office (CPDO) based on the comprehensive development plan and executive-legislative agenda which are provided to all local government department every three years; concerned departments prepare their respective project proposals according to the priority list with the assistance of the CPDO; feasibility studies shall be prepared by the local government’s Local Finance Committee (LFC); public consultations shall be conducted throughout the process of project preparation and finalization; project proposals and feasibility studies shall be consolidated and checked by the CPDO; and the local government management committee shall approve the proposals and feasibility studies prior to the implementation of the identified development projects.
The ordinance claimed that there are a number of ongoing multi-sectoral development projects in the city and there is a need for the city government to streamline project proposal and feasibility study preparation, checking and monitoring.
It added that it is vital that all project proposals and feasibility studies should strictly adhere to the aforesaid process to ensure that the projects implemented will be aligned with the city’s comprehensive development plan.
The ordinance was anchored on Section 16 of Republic Act (RA) 7160 or the Local Government Code that provides that every local government unit shall exercise the powers expressly granted, those necessarily implied therefrom, as well as powers necessary, appropriate, or incidental for its efficient and effective governance, and those which are essential for the promotion of the general welfare.
Moreover, the Code mandates the local legislative body to generate and maximize the use of resources and revenues for the development plans, program objectives and priorities of the local government as well as regulate activities relative to the use of land, buildings and structures in the city.
The city planning and development coordinator is tasked by the local government to create a sustainable and enabling environment that will promote economic stability and ensure the general well being of the people in line with the city’s policy on environment, energy, land use, urban regeneration and economic development and competitiveness. By Dexter A. See
