Design for business stalls/ Penalty for uncleanliness

 CITY HALL BEAT

Aileen P. Refuerzo

BAGUIO CITY – The city will impose a standard leveled up design for business stalls along highways and barangay roads starting 2020.

Mayor Benjamin Magalong said this is to “level up the standard of our business establishments in terms of cleanliness, sanitation, appropriate floor plans and aesthetics in pursuit of the City of Baguio’s promotion of health and safety.”

He said the design must be suited to the city’s reputation as a “Highly Urbanized City, UNESCO’s Creative City, Summer Capital of the Philippines, and Educational Center of the North and a tourist destination.”

To be covered are the eateries, small talipapa, fruit and vegetable stands along government lots along Marcos Highway and other highways, Gov. Pack Road, Engineers’ Hill, Camp 7, among others.

A design was provided by the City Building and Architecture Office (CBAO) as guide for the businessmen.

The mayor had directed the affected business owners to submit to the CBAO a building plan following the prototype design and floor plan appropriate to their line of business for approval of the CBAO.

Those located in private lots were asked to submit their plans appropriate to their line of business for the CBAO’s review and approval.

“New business permit applications and renewal of business permits for the year 2020 will be subjected to the above-set standards.  No business permit shall be issued to non-compliant business establishments,” he warned.

In the directive, the establishments are also to observe sanitation standards by maintaining cleanliness and orderliness within their premises at all times.

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Mayor Magalong wants the imposition of maximum allowable penalty for those violating the city’s ordinance on cleanliness including the establishments neglecting the upkeep of their surroundings.

In the management committee meeting Nov. 25, the mayor tasked City General Services Officer Eugene Buyucan to draft a proposed amendatory ordinance to update the penalty under Ordinance 47 series of 1995.

The draft ordinance will be submitted to the city council for consideration.

Ordinance No. 47-95 is entitled, “Amending the Penal Provisions of Ordinance No. 54-88 Entitled ‘An Ordinance Penalizing Illegal Disposal of Refuse, Excrement and Egesta, Removal or Destruction of Receptacles for Refuse and Illegal Obstruction of Waterways and Dumping into Bodies of Water Requiring Certain Persons, Institutions and Establishments to Provide for Receptacles for Refuse to Keep Surroundings Clean and to Pick Up Litters Providing for Amnesty from Prosecution…’”

Section 4 of Ordinance No. 54-88 specifically requires “owners of commercial and industrial establishments such as hotels, restaurants, hospitals, cinema houses, stores, transportation companies, universities, colleges, schools and other similar institutions and/or establishments of any kind, and owners or administrators of commercial and residential lots shall be obliged to keep their areas and surroundings as well as the abutting roads, drainage canals, curbs and gutters, alleys and other passageways and their immediate premises clean.”

The move stemmed from the mayor’s earlier call for the imposition of outright penalty against business owners who neglect the upkeep of their premises following the mayor’s observance that some of them do not take the responsibility seriously.

Ordinance No. 47-1995 deals with the concern albeit it necessitates updating particularly the penal provision.

Ordinance 47-95 metes penalties of P150 fine and/or 20-30-day imprisonment for first offense and P250 fine and/or 45-day incarceration for second and succeeding offenses.

The mayor said the city should impose the highest allowable penalty to compel residents to comply with the law.

City Legal Officer Melchor Carlos Rabanes said under the Local Government Code, the city may enforce a P5,000 maximum fine under the fines and penalties section.

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A Rabies Prevention and Stray Dog Control Committee has been formed in the city to spearhead activities towards achieving a rabies-free city.

Mayor Benjamin Magalong will chair the committee with City Veterinarian Dr. Brigit Piok as action officer.

In Executive Order No. 163 series of 2019, the mayor named the following as members of the committee: City Health Officer Dr. Rowena Galpo, Dept. of Education Baguio City Schools Division Supt. Dr. Marie Carolyn Verano, Dept. of Interior and Local Government City Director Evelyn Trinidad, Association of Barangay Councils President Coun. Michael Lawana, Baguio City Police Director Lt. Col. Allen Rae Co, the public information officer and the non-government organizations Philippine Veterinary Medical Association Cordillera (PVMA-CAR) and Cordillera Animal Protection Advocate Inc. (CAPA).

The body is tasked to coordinate plans and efforts from member agencies to achieve a rabies-free Baguio City by the year 2030

It will also take charge of preparing a City Rabies Prevention and Stray Dog Control Plan adhering to the National Rabies Prevention and Control Program and incorporating more specific responsibilities within the scope of the Local Government Unit; and of proposing amendments to the existing the City Rabies Ordinances as needed.

In the barangay level, the committee will help in the creation of the Barangay Rabies Prevention and Stray Dog Control bodies “Bantay Rabies” in the grassroots level, evaluate and support the barangay activities on the implementation of their responsibility on the program, come up with model barangays as best program implementers and to formulate criteria and conduct a search for the best implementing barangay.

The creation of the committee is pursuant to Republic Act No. 9842 or the Anti-Rabies Act of 2007 which mandates the establishment of a National Rabies Prevention and Control Program.

“The law mandates the establishment of rabies prevention and stray dog control committee in all LGUs (for) harmonious implementation of the program (while also providing) guidelines for the declaration of rabies-free zones and one of the requirements in the declaration is the establishment of (a committee),” the mayor noted.

Ordinance No. 9-2008 or Amending Ordinance No. 61-1993 and Ordinance No. 82-1948 of the city requires dogs to be subjected to anti-rabies vaccination.