BAGUIO CITY – The City Council approved on first reading a proposed ordinance establishing a City Pasalubong and Enterprise Development Center as a local economic enterprise of the city.
The ordinance authored by Councilor Elaine D. Sembrano stated that it will be a policy of the local government to develop and promote sustainable economic activities and to provide support facilities to micro, small and medium enterprises to foster faster local social and economic growth.
The ordinance added the city Pasalubong Center or Baguio Kabuhayan Center shall primarily cater to homegrown micro and small enterprises engaged in the manufacture and marketing of local products such as processed foods; wood, stone or metal crafts; art or decorative products; woven or knitted products; items from recycled or waste materials; and other similar uniquely produced items from the city.
Among the general components of the this facility include business development that shall cover activities, such as, livelihood and business capability-building and product manufacture; development and enhancement which shall be under the City Social Welfare and Development Office in partnership with the Sangguniang Panlungsod Committee on Employment, Livelihood, Cooperatives and Persons with Disabilities, and marketing component that shall cover the selling or marketing or promotion of products which will be under the City Treasury Office in partnership with the Sangguniang Panlungsod Committee on Market, Trade and Commerce.
The ordinance will create the Local Enterprise Committee to be chaired by the City Mayor with the City Administrator as the action officer and to be composed of the City Treasurer, City Social Welfare and Development officer, SP Committee on Employment, Livelihood, Cooperatives and PWDs, SP Committee on Market, Trade and Commerce and president of accredited citywide MSME organization as members.
The Committee will be tasked to formulate and implement a city entrepreneurship development and promotion plan focused on the strengthening and promotion of MSMEs; facilitate the establishment of the City Kabuhayan Center as well as monitor the performance of the entrepreneurship development activities; assemble a management team for the operation of the City Kabuhayan Center; link or partner with the Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Science and Technology, Department of labor and Employment and private entities for the realization and advancement of the city entrepreneurship development and promotion plan; recommend to the City Council or to the office of the chief executive measures imperative to the improvement of the City Kabuyanan Center and submit a quarterly progress report to the City Council and the local chief executive relative to the progress of the operation of the center.
Under the proposed ordinance, half of the proceeds from the operation of the center shall accrue to the general funds of the city while half shall be deposited in an account for the City Kabuhayan Center purposely to fund the center’s expansion, assistance to MSMEs and other activities allowed by law.
By Dexter A. See