DAVAO City Councilor Ralph Abella has urged other councilors that when they file an ordinance, they should also include the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) to allow the quick implementation of the law.
"Kabalo ko, ang ubang ordinance kay karaan na. Dugay na ang uban nga hantod karon wala pa IRR tungod sa kadaghan sa trabaho sa atong (City) Legal Office (I know that there are some ordinances in the city that are still pending due to the lack of IRR. The City Legal Office also had a hard time due to their pending tasks)," Abella said in his inaugural speech during the first regular session of the 19th City Council on Tuesday, July 2.
An IRR is required to fully implement a certain law or ordinance, wherein the different functions and duties, and scope and limitation of the agencies who will implement it are stated.
Abella, former Barangay Hizon captain and husband of former Councilor Marissa Abella, cited his wife's Half-cup Rice Orders Ordinance passed in 2018 as one of the ordinances that do not have an existing IRR.
The ordinance requires the city’s food service industry to include ‘half-rice’ option in their menu, even in posh food establishments.
The ordinance also aims to support the rice self-sufficiency program of the National Government and also to support the campaign to reduce rice wastage.
Abella said he already opened his suggestion to Councilor Jesus Joseph Zozobrado prior to the start of the regular council.
Meanwhile, newly-elected council floor leader Melchor Quitain Jr. agreed with his colleagues’ suggestion.
"Dapat naa na ready na'y ready nga IRR. Para pagkahuman (og pasa sa ordinance) kay IRR na diretso. Atleast kung maghimo ka'g changes, naa nakay working draft. Di na magstart to zero. (There should be a prepared IRR once the ordinance is passed. So that it would be easier to make some changes since there is already a working draft)," Quitain said.
He also said the council will be amending some existing ordinances "to be at tune" to the current times.
Quitain said he is working to amend an ordinance regarding pet-ownership, including dogs, since the ordinance was passed back in 1974.