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Wednesday, October 03, 2007
Davao City’s shelter ordinance gets council nod again
By Grace L. Plata
DAVAO CITY -- The proposed Comprehensive Urban Shelter and Services Development Code of Davao City, otherwise known as the Shelter Code, was passed by the City Council in the second reading Tuesday after four long weeks of going through each section carefully.
Sections 21 to 26 were approved Tuesday with only minor amendments and clarifications from the body.
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These included provisions on establishing a trust fund earmarked for housing projects.
Section 22 provided that the city housing authority will be the implementing arm for the program while the soon-to-be established Local Housing Board will be the policy-making body.
Section 23 orders the coordination of special committees while Sections 24-26 are standard requirements on publication and effectivity.
Councilor Arnolfo Rocardo Cabling, chair of the City Council committee on housing, rural and urban development and proponent of the Shelter Code, said he is hoping that this time the City Legal Office would not find legal infirmities in the ordinance, which was why the Shelter Code was vetoed in the past council.
"With the collective effort of our legislators, murag wala na gyud siguro'y problema (it appears that this one will no longer have any problem)," Cabling said.
He also said prior to recommending for the mayor's veto, City Legal Officer Melchor Quitain called him up and suggested to only have the corrected points incorporated and pass the measure under suspended rules.
"Pero okay ra man pud na ing-ani ang nahimo process (I appreciate the process we had to go through) so that the body can really appreciate the full content of the ordinance through discussion," Cabling said.
Groups rallying for the passage of the Shelter Code lauded the approval.
Conrado Sillada of the Shelter Code Alliance said his group is quite confident that the City Legal Office would not find any more flaws in the ordinance and will recommend for its approval by the mayor.
If it so happens, the Shelter Code will be touted as the first landmark legislation passed by the 15th council.
Second reading approval means the ordinance is virtually approved as third reading in the council is but a formality where the new ordinance's title is announced as a duly approved ordinance. (Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Bacolod. (October 3, 2007 issue)
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