BAGUIO CITY – The City Government will strictly implement the provisions of an existing ordinance prohibiting the solicitation activities in three different offices of the local government.
City Social Welfare and Development (CSWD) Officer Betty Fangasan instructed city officials and employees to ask for proof from those soliciting from their offices that such solicitation activities are covered by a permit issued by the CSWD office to allow the said office to monitor if proceeds of the solicitation activities of individuals and groups really go to intended beneficiaries.
It can be recalled that a number of city officials brought to the attention of Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan the rampant solicitation activities inside the city hall which are being conducted by individuals and groups that tend to disrupt the daily work in their respective offices and in violation of the existing ordinance prohibiting solicitations in government offices.
Fangasan claimed individuals and groups intending to conduct solicitation in the city are obliged to secure the required permit from their office before pursuing their activities as those who secured the solicitation permits are mandated to submit their reports to the City Social Welfare and Development Office for monitoring compliance of the solicitor to the requirement that bulk of those solicited should directly be given to the beneficiaries.
According to the complaints of some city officials, individuals reportedly just go to their offices to verbally conduct solicitation activities for their own personal use including the needs of their children, thus, the need for concerned city departments to strictly enforce the city’s anti-solicitation policy so that solicitation activities will only be done by individuals or entities with permits and that the proceeds will go to lawful purposes instead of personal uses by the individuals.
Fangasan explained proponents of solicitation that are covered by permits from the City Social Welfare and Development Office must be able to justify where the proceeds of their activities will go primarily for monitoring purposes because the said office will also make sure that the beneficiaries will be able to receive the proceeds of such solicitation activities.
With the upcoming Yuletide season, concerned city officials expressed their concern over the expected surge in solicitation activities of individuals and groups wanting to raise funds for either personal or charitable purposes, thus, the need for the local government to post on conspicuous places notices stating among others that no solicitation activity should be done within the premises of city hall during office hours.
Fangasan appealed to individuals and groups wanting to conduct solicitation activities for noble purposes to secure the appropriate permit from their office to allow transparency in the conduct of such activities and for the beneficiaries to be aware of the funds raised for their benefit.
By Dexter A. See