Completion of priority projects in city pressed

May 3, 2020 Metro BLISTT

BAGUIO CITY – The City Council approved a resolution requesting the City Engineer’s Office (CEO), City Buildings and Architecture Office (CBAO) and the Department of Public Works and Highways – Baguio City District Engineering Office (DPWH-BCDEO) to the priority critical government infrastructure projects that needs construction and completion before the onset of the rainy season to avoid any untoward incident when the rains come.
The resolution authored by all members of the city legislative body states that the identification, prioritization and completion of the critical government construction projects are of utmost importance for the safety, convenience and comfort of all the constituents of the city, especially as the rainy season is just around the corner.
The resolution disclosed that the CEO, CBAO and the DPWH-BCDEO are the entities of the national and city governments that can immediately identify critical government infrastructure projects within the city that should already be completed prior to the start of the rainy season.
Earlier, the extended Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) due to the Corona Virus Disease (COVID) 2019 global pandemic has either restricted or suspended vital private and government activities in the city, and among the key sector affected was the infrastructure sector, especially that which involves government construction projects.
The national task force on the management of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases included Benguet and Baguio city as high risk areas where the ECQ will have to be extended up to May 15, 2020. One of the sectors being eyed by city governments to resume right after the lifting of the ECQ is the construction industry to allow contractors to complete the critical stages of their projects to ensure that the same will be stable in time for the rainy season.
Section 16 of the Local Government Code provides that every local government unit shall exercise the powers expressly granted, those necessarily implied therefrom, as well as powers, necessary, appropriate, or incidental for its efficient and effective governance, and those which are essential to the promotion of general welfare.
Within their respective territorial jurisdictions, local government units shall ensure and support, among other things, the preservation and enrichment of culture, promote health and safety, enhance the right of the people to a balanced ecology, encourage and support the development of appropriate and self-reliant, scientific and technological capabilities, improve public morals, enhance economic prosperity and social justice, promote full employment among their residents, maintain peace and order, and preserve the comfort and convenience of their inhabitants.
Further, Section 17 stated that local government units shall endeavor to be self-reliant and shall continue exercising the powers and discharging the duties and functions currently vested upon them. They shall also discharge the functions and responsibilities of national agencies and offices devolved to them pursuant to the Code.
Dexter A. See/ABN