Scout officials okay 15 laws for Baguio

By Gaby B. Keith

BAGUIO CITY – A total of 26 measures including four proposed ordinances and 22 resolutions were deliberated during the “Scout officials fora day” (SOFAD) special session at City Hall’s SP Session hall Monday as part of the city’s annual celebration of Scouting Month.

Presided by Scout Vice Mayor Kleine Bren Enriquez, the august body approved 15 of the measures, including those that support  the city’s clean and green program, promotes  “scouting values” in  barangays, the responsible use of social media and closure of bars near schools.

The rest failed to achieve the needed number of votes to pass during the  half-day session overseen by city council secretary Brenner Bengwayan and his staff.

Those approved include measures requiring local public and private schools to conduct clean-up drives in the barangays they are situated every last Friday of the month; requesting that designated loading/unloading areas for taxis on both sides of Session and Harrison Roads be fully utilized and signages be put up for easier identification; urging the city government to include mandatory pine tree planting as pre-requisite before buying or owning a vehicle in support of the city’s green program.

Also approved were those requiring the availability, readiness and accessibility of a first-aid kit in all city school classrooms ; requesting the Baguio Flower Festival Inc. to include tree planting as one of the festival’s activities; requesting the city environment and parks management office to put do’s and don’ts signages at Burnham Park; urging basic education in local private and public institutions to strictly observe non-discrimination of persons with disabilities;  requesting the Department of Public Works and Highways and City Engineering Office to ensure that all road signages are visible to motorists and residents.

The scout city council members also okayed measures mandating the traffic management unit and highway patrol group to strictly implement the city’s loading and unloading zones; requesting local barangays to promote scouting values thru trainings and programs; urging school student governments to come up with their own policies and guidelines and conduct activities in their schools to promote good and responsible use of social media.

Also approved were those strongly urging schools to include in their curriculum the requirement for students to conduct tree planting activities every school year; urging all schools to intensify the inspection of bags of students and visitors to ensure that deadly weapons are not brought inside school premises; supporting the city government under Mayor Benjamin Magalong in its initiative to close bars near schools for the safety and security of students; and requiring all educational institutions, public or private, to have a club day every Friday after all academic subjects are finished.