Adoption of Baguio first policy proposed

THE City Council recently approved on first reading a proposed ordinance making it mandatory for all employers in the city to observe the "Baguio first policy" in hiring applicants for available jobs in their respective fields of expertise.

The ordinance authored by Councilor Leandro Yangot, Jr. said it should be a policy of the city government to make it mandatory for all employers operating in the city to give preference to qualified Baguio residents in the hiring of applicants for employment.

Under the proposed ordinance, all employers through their respective human resource officers, will submit to the Permits and Licensing Division of the City Mayor’s Office a semestral report on the employment status of their business or firm.

Further, the Permits and Licensing Division will monitor the compliance of employers to the pertinent provisions of the legislative measure.

Any employer operating in the city found violating the pertinent provisions of the ordinance will be fined P5,000 or one-year imprisonment or both upon the discretion of the court plus revocation of their business permits.

Aside from being the country’s favorite summer destination, Yangot cited Baguio City became an educational and economic center north of Manila and inevitably, a potential commercial and trade borough with the establishment of small and medium businesses, commercial buildings and trade centers.

Yangot added investors invited by the city government ventured into various businesses and trade resulted to more jobs in the city.

With these developments, the proponent pointed out Baguio residents’ rights to priority employment must be protected under the city’s residents-first policy principle.

The alderman opined local hiring is a critical component of the community benefits agenda because they create concrete mechanisms for ensuring that investment of public funds and economic development will direct resources into low-income neighborhoods.

Yangot emphasized the relevant legislation must be given appropriate attention to ensure that local residents will be given preference in terms of employment or job opportunities.

While it is true the hiring standards will be based on the compliance of applicants to the qualification standards for various positions, Yangot explained qualified local residents for the different job openings should be given preference by the employees in deciding whom to hire in their respective companies.

The proposed measure will be subjected to the appropriate consultations with stakeholders in order to get the views, suggestions and recommendations of the public on how to improve the ordinance and make it effective for increased employment opportunities for residents of the city’s 128 barangays. (Dexter See/PIO)

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