DAVAO CITY, Philippines — With the year coming to a close, the Davao City Council hopes to reach their target landmark ordinances in 2021 despite the challenges in the COVID-19 pandemic.
In an interview, Vice Mayor Sebastian Duterte, who presides the 19th Davao City Council, said they have 13 landmark ordinances that are under committee hearings or on first reading that fall under infrastructure, economy, and services.
These target ordinances are the Transportation Master Plan of Davao City, Solid Waste Management (SWM) Ordinance, the institutionalization of the Public Safety and Security Command Center (PSSCC), creation of the Meeting, Incentive, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) Board, Amendments of the 1946 City Building Code, and the institutionalization of the Davao City Food Terminal Complex.
Also included is the creation of the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Department, the institutionalization of the Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams, the establishment of Mari-Culture Parks, creation of the Septage Management Program (SMP), creation of the Tourism Master Plan, and the establishment of the City Evacuation Centers and Teen Centers.
In two years of the 19th city council, it has passed eleven landmark ordinances which include the Amendments the Traffic Code, Institutionalization of the Magnegosyo Ta Day Program, Strengthening the Mandatory Infants and Children Health Immunization Act of 2011 through the use of the Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) Card, Amendments of 1994 Children and Welfare Code (CWC) and Women’s Development Code of Davao City.
It also approved the legislation to establish the Davao City College, OFW Families Welfare and Crisis Center, Davao City Special Needs Intervention Center for Children, Mental Wellness Center of Davao City, and the additional Council Committees on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, Anti-Terrorism, Future Generation and Indigenous People.
Duterte said the 19th City Council plan is to have 24 landmark ordinances passed in their three-year term.
“Supposedly one [landmark legislation] per councilor, and it is not difficult to craft a landmark ordinance because it is tailor-fit with the city usually, unique and first. So far as I can see it they can deliver it to meet the target,” he said.
Vice Mayor Duterte said the adjustments the council made during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as shifting committee hearings and regular sessions online is “only a minor issue”, and hopes they stay on target.
The council only allows a limited number of councilors and press to be present in the plenary in the Sangguniang Panlungsod session hall.
Duterte admitted some minor problems such as poor internet connection had affected some of their sessions.(davaotoday.com)
