Councilor proposes body for sanitary code

THE CITY may finally have a comprehensive and consolidated sanitation code after Councilor Philian Louise Weygan-Allan authored and filed a proposed ordinance for the creation of a committee to undertake codification of the various laws on sanitation of the city.

In proposing the legislative measure, Weygan cited Presidential Decree 865, otherwise known as the Code of Sanitation of the Philippines of 1975, which updated the various laws on health and sanitation as well as the promotion of healthy living.

She also mentioned in her proposal that the City Council has, in the previous years, been passing resolutions and ordinances addressing various concerns and issues on sanitation.

If approved, the proposal will create a committee responsible in codifying the existing various city ordinances and resolutions along with results of the research and consultation to be made into what will be eventually be promulgated as the Sanitation Code of Baguio.

The committee for the codification of the Sanitation Code will be composed of the city offices that have direct supervision on the sanitation concerns which include but not limited to (a) the Department of health, City Veterinary Office, City Environment and Parks Management Office (Cepmo), office of the market supervisor, (b) the City Council committee on health, sanitation and environment, (c) the City Council Secretary and Staff, (d) and representatives from the private sector.

The functions of the committee as proposed by Councilor Weygan will include (a) the gathering of pertinent data, the writing and editing of the sanitation code, (b) conduct and hold consultations with the concerned stakeholders covered by the Code, (c) the submission to the council for its appropriate action the draft of the Code which should be in compliance with the national laws governing sanitation, and (d) conduct public awareness campaigns in the implementation of the code.

In the creation of the committee and to support its functions the proposed amount of P500,000 will be appropriated from available funds of the City Government to pay the cost of data gathering, consultation, writing and publication, the use of which must be in compliance with established accounting and auditing procedures.

In the event of its approval, the said legislative measure will enhance efforts by the City Government to protect and maintain a healthy environment for the residents of Baguio and will augment measures aimed at insuring the cleanliness of the environment of the city.

The proposed establishment of the sanitation code will also go a long way in addressing various sanitation problems being encountered at the Central Business District particularly at the Baguio City Market where various commercial products end up to be sold.

Also, the codification of the City’s Sanitation laws may address concerns on the upkeep and maintenance of the City’s abattoir at the Slaughterhouse compound. (Brix Domondon)