Lions Club tiff in Baguio

EDITORIALS

The Lions Club civic center within Burnham Park in Baguio City is now a bone of contention among city councilors who want the dispute over its use settled.

The city council is set to decide if it will request the Cordillera office of the Dept. of Tourism to review the memorandum of agreement entered by the local government and the Lions Club of Baguio, Inc. for use of a parcel of land within Burnham Park complex for the Lions Club civic center.

Some local legislators proposed the referral of the agreement to the DOT-CAR for review, the agency being the owner of the property. Executive Order No. 224, series of 1995 authorized the local government to administer, manage and operate Burnham Park which was subsequently strengthened by Executive Order No. 695, series of 2009.

Earlier, Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan transmitted to the city council for confirmation the MOA between the local government and Lions Club, Inc. for use of a parcel of land within Burnham Park complex for construction of a Lions Club civic center.

The crafting of the agreement was pursuant to Audit Observation Memorandum No. 17-010 dated 08 March 2017 of the Commission on Audit – Cordillera Administrative Region on operation and management of Burnham Park reservation wherein it was discovered the Lions Clubhouse in the complex was not covered by an agreement, according to a city hall report.

The city council also directed the City Environment and Parks Management Office and City Building Office to inspect structures in the area to ascertain their structural integrity among other safety concerns and for said offices to submit an inventory on actual use of the facilities.

The city council also requested the Lions Club, Inc. to submit its financial statement over the last five years to serve as a basis in assessing how the club was able to use the property.

The previous members of the local legislative body approved Resolution No. 49, series of 1970 which granted the Lions Club of Baguio exemption from payment of building permit fee and all  fees in connection with construction of its clubhouse building; provided that upon completion of said building, the Baguio City library will be housed therein free of charge.

Local legislators attempted to pass a resolution to regulate the use by the Lions Club, Inc. of the property but the motion was deferred for further discussion.

The former Philippine Tourism Authority tried to work out issuance of a Presidential Proclamation for segregation of the area occupied by the Lions Club for use of the civic organization but the same was overtaken by events.

The Lions Club civic center is now being used by numerous civic and religious organizations for their activities allowing the organization to generate funds for their civic activities.

Comelec on political advertisements

The Commission on Elections warned candidates in the midterm polls to follow the required size for campaign posters even as political advertisements are allowed on public utility vehicles (PUVs).

Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon said political ads should not exceed 2 x 3 feet for posters and 8.5 x 11 inches for stickers.

These campaign materials should be placed at the back of the PUVs, Guanzon said.

“These vehicles are private properties, but the Comelec has the authority to regulate campaign materials,” she said. Guanzon said posting of campaign posters in private buildings and houses is also allowed provided that the required size is observed and it has the permission of the owners.

“Otherwise, campaign materials should be displayed in common poster areas designated by the Comelec,” she said.

Under Comelec Resolution No. 10488, Guanzon said state-owned transportation facilities such as Metro Rail Transit, Light Rail Transit and Philippine National Railways are prohibited from displaying political advertisements.