I AM tempted to write about the coronavirus, which is one of those who have attended an international gathering and also have travelled to South Korea and the USA recently. But I will write that after a week as we observe the effect of the lockdown in metropolitan Manila.

I will now try to draw attention on how our citizens can avail of processes where their aspirations and voices can be translated in concrete terms for the general public It is not true that the members of the city council pass legislation for personal gain as each of the members of the council adhere to an oath of public service above self.

The city council enacts ordinances that are based on the Baguio City’s long term, medium and short term economic development plan. This plan is laid down in various city documents including the Local Annual Development Plan, Local Investment Plan, the City Land Use Plan, the Executive Legislative Agenda, the City Budget and other documents that need legislative action. There are national laws that need local legislation, thus it is one source of an ordinance. Saying that it means there is a wide source where we can get an idea of what ordinances we need to pass.

When this idea is conceptualized through consultation and research the first draft is written and submitted to the city council. The first draft is made open for further study, research, en banc liberations and public consultations. The process of the Baguio City council is to pass in the first reading, then it is for second reading for publication, second reading after publication and then third and final reading. It is when it is on second reading that the required public hearing must be done, but at the same time small group discussions, committee deliberations and other types of consultations can be done while it is on second reading. There are no more deliberations during the third and final reading. When passed in the city council, it is then forwarded to the city mayor for his confirmation or no confirmation. When he confirms and attaches his signature, it is then implementable.

Over time that a local ordinance is implemented, there may be local situations and scenarios that change that makes it necessary to make revisions in an ordinance. That revision will undergo the same process as it did in the original enactment of the ordinance.

This revision and development are what most people do not understand. It is in this part of the legislative process where public opinion and experience can request for revision or amendment of certain portions of the local ordinance. It is noticeable in the city of Baguio that some ordinances have seen its full implementation for various reasons, this is also a sign that amendments need to be introduced to make it implementable.

For the next six months, my committee and staff will focus on the Agricultural sector of our city. Numerous resolutions have already been passed but there is a need to review and make ordinances that will make directly benefit the farmers, urban gardeners, and growers in the city of Baguio. The agricultural sector is challenged because of at least two factors, that the city is considered highly urbanized and that our neighboring Benguet Province is an agricultural center with a centenarian agriculture school and industry. These two factors alone make Baguio city agricultural sector pale in significance and attention.

The farmers themselves realize that in times of calamity like isolation during the 1990 earthquake and the impending lockdown because of Covid-19 that farmer’s role is highlighted. It is in these times that local resources for food can be sources in the locality. The local farmers will be challenged to feed the members of the community. It is in this light that our office and our committee will research, consult and enact laws to benefit our farmers. It is a developmental legislation.