Wednesday, December 12, 2007 City folks propose changes in car plan ordinance
A GROUP of Baguio residents coming from various sectors are proposing amendments to the car plan ordinance.
Amendments to Ordinance 57-2007 would come in the form of a petition initiated by the Baguio Muna Watchdog (BMW), a group composed of the Baguio First Movement, Baguio Multi-sectoral Group, evangelical church leaders and other concerned organizations.
The ordinance takes effect 10 days after posting. Although earlier vetoed by Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr., the City Council overrode the veto, making the ordinance valid.
But the Council agreed to write the mayor not to implement the ordinance pending further action.
Councilors Galo Weygan and Perlita Chan-Rondez already proposed for the ordinance's repeal and sought that funds for the car plan, amounting to P18 million, be reverted to the general fund and instead be allocated for the purchase of composting machines.
The BMW, on the other hand, proposed that the P15 million for the Council's cars be re-aligned for the purchase of dump trucks, establishment of barangay-based materials recovery facilities and other equipment for the city's solid waste management plan.
The group also proposed the purchase of patrol cars, motorcycles and streetlights worth P1.6-M and the allocation of P8.6-M for unimplemented barangay projects as contained in the development plans of the city’s 129 barangays.
The proposal to repeal the ordinance and re-align the money was referred to the Council committee on laws.
Vice Mayor Daniel Fariñas, meanwhile, said Ordinance 57 could not be implemented yet because the ordinance has not been posted. (Rimaliza Opiña)
