BAGUIO CITY – The City Council approved on first reading a proposed ordinance institutionalizing the Values Restoration Program of the local government and for other purposes it may serve.
The ordinance authored by Vice Mayor Faustino A. Olowan and Councilor Isabelo B. Cosalan, Jr. states the proposed measure endeavors to re-orient public officials and employees towards nurturing positive Filipino values alongside core values expected of government officials and employees as provided for by law, to promote a high degree of public service and governance in the city.
The ordinance shall cover all local government, barangay, and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials and employees, officials and employees of all public schools; Baguio City Police Office, Baguio City Fire Station, as well as the Baguio City Jail Management and Penology.
The ordinance stipulates that for the implementation of the measure, a City Values Restoration Team shall be created to be designated by the City Mayor through an Administrative Order with a term of 3 years unless revoked earlier and the same shall be composed of the City mayor as chairperson and to be co-chaired by the City Vice Mayor with the chairperson of the Committee on Ethics, governmental Affairs and Personnel as action officer while the City Human Resource Management Officer, 1 values restoration focal person from all departments and offices of the local government, Office of the Lone District Representative of Baguio, Liga ng mga Barangay, Sangguniang Kabataan federation, BCPO, Baguio fire station and the Baguio City jail male and female dorms, Division of City Schools and the City Public Information Office and other members as may be deemed necessary by the team as convened by the local chief executive.
Among the duties and responsibilities of the team include to formulate the city values restoration plan; implement, in coordination with the Baguio City Character Council and the Civil Service Commission values restoration programs in accordance to the plan; recommend to the local legislative body proposed measures for the enhancement of values restoration programs and activities; submit to the City Mayor’s Office and the local legislative body an annual report to include among others an assessment on the impact of values restoration programs on the employees and the department or office and perform such other functions as may be assigned by the City mayor and the local legislative body in relation to the values restoration program and plan.
The ordinance asserts all officials and employees shall be required to attend at least values restoration activity in a year and it shall be the responsibility of the team to include in its annual plan appropriate activities that correspond to the required training needs as per evaluation of the team.
The ordinance points out that the designated focal persons shall lead the discussion of a value focus every week during the regular flag raising ceremony to remind all local government officials and employees of the core values and that the value focus shall be based on the CSC’s identified core values of patriotism, integrity, excellence and spirituality.
By Dexter A. See
Photo by Armando M. Bolislis
