Alfred
P. Dizon
BAGUIO CITY – Like Isko
Moreno of Manila, Mayor Benjamin Magalong of this tourism resort is apparently
doing the right moves in moving this city to the right direction, according to
observers.
Except for
the hard-headed, it seems motorists are now observing traffic laws and don’t
just park their vehicles anywhere. Somehow, heavy traffic is slowly easing. The
bus terminal which had been a bottleneck over the years is now a breeze to pass
as buses cannot park on one side.
The Irisan
dumpsite’s machines are now working even as the air has become fresher in the
area, residents there are saying. The problem of squatting is reportedly now
being addressed particularly at Busol Watershed which is still a sticky
question due to ancestral land claims over the area.
Residents of
Brooks Point beside the watershed have often complained about squatters who
have mushroomed in the area over the years.
What the good
mayor could check is whether those with such ancestral land claims over the
area are really Ibalois considering some
Kankanaeys affiliated with city hall bigshots the past administration
reportedly applied for such land claims over the area.
Meanwhile, a
sizable lot at Dominican Hill near the old and dilapidated Dominican Hotel
titled under a group of former Benguet Electric Cooperative employees had also
been squatted upon.
The owners
however couldn’t drive away the notorious squatters who wield bolos every time
they go there. “Bagi yo to papel, bagi mi ti daga (You own the papers, we own
the land)” they reportedly shout at them every time they are there.
It is high
time these squatters are driven away so the legitimate land owners could
peacefully use their lots and the mayor could play a major role in this.
Anyhow, while
Magalong and his men are clearing roads of obstructions and illegal structures
over road rights of way like those along Marcos and Naguillan roads, he is also
reportedly addressing the problem of stray dogs and is looking at imbedding
microchips on these animals wherein the owner could be immediately identified
and penalized for letting their dogs on the streets.
It seems the
former chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group is on a mission
with no time to spare.
***
But there are
still reportedly the “sipsips” sowing intrigues who are trying to get into his
good graces – some affiliated with the past administration.
He bared this
to a group of media persons on the sidelines of a press conference at the DENR
compound before he assumed office. We wish the mayor well in his endeavors to
“fix” the city.
***
This, as the
city council approved a resolution “urging the mayor to create a city government
performance and governance audit team to conduct a performance evaluation of
all city hall departments focused on three sectors: plans, programs and
projects; budget and personnel and actual implementation, output and impact to
stakeholders, as tool for the city to enhance delivery of public service.”
A report by
Dexter See of the city information office said the resolution authored by Councilor Isabelo B.
Cosalan, Jr. stated that “foremost in the 15-point agenda of the local chief
executive is to speed up government action -- an indication that delivery of
government services appears to be a challenge to the patience of the city’s
constituency.”
The
resolution noted “one of the indicators of good governance is the
responsiveness of government officials and employees in effectively responding
to the real needs of the people and their expectations within a reasonable
period of time and with efficiency.”
The
resolution stipulated that “the local government leadership can effect much
needed reforms, the public is looking forward to in regards city government
actions on various issues and concerns, to focus more on the actual impacts of
the said actions in the promotion of the general welfare and benefits of the
citizenry or stakeholders.”
According to
the proposed resolution, “there have been previous initiatives by the local
government to conduct an organizational audit of the city but unfortunately
such plans were not sustained or had they been implemented, fell short in
addressing persistent organizational and operational loopholes.”
The
resolution pointed out that “it is imperative to determine the public’s
perception on how government officials and employees dispense their duties and
responsibilities as well as how they connect with the stakeholders not merely
as employees executing routine tasks, but representatives of the government in
their respective capacities.”
The proposal said
“proper planning starts with a clear identification, appreciation and
understanding of the challenges and circumstances to appropriately address
issues and concerns that affect the realization of the set goals and
objectives.”
The Local
government Code of 1991 as amended provides that efficient, effective and
economical governance of local government units is geared to the general
welfare of its inhabitants pursuant to Section 16 of the same code.
The
resolution with this, the “city mayor shall initiate and maximize the
generation of resources and revenues, and apply the same to the implementation
of development plans, program objectives and priorities as provided for under
Section 18 of the code to ensure the delivery of basic services and the provision
of adequate facilities as provided for under Section 17.”
Administrative
Order No. 052, series of 2019 reportedly “constituted the project management
team for a citywide organizational audit, analysis and organizational
development within the local government does not provide for a timeframe the
audit should start and end, neither does it provide that the results of such
audit be furnished the local legislative body for appropriate legislative
intervention.”
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