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City offices urged to ensure project compliance with CJH master plan

BAGUIO CITY (June 17) — Baguio City Mayor Braulio D. Yaranon ordered offices involved in the issuance of building and development permits here to ensure that plans and proposals within Camp John Hay comply with the approved master development plan for the multiple use of Camp John Hay Forest and Watershed Reservation.

Yaranon’s Administrative Order No. 77 urged the City Building and Architecture Office and other concerned “to protect the interest of the city government an public welfare and interest.”

“...Considering that Camp John Hay is established as a multiple use forest and watershed reservation, it is essential that all development (projects) therein should comply with the approved Master Development Plan existing at the time of the issuance of the 19 conditionalities..,” Yaranon said.

The 19 conditionalities adopted by the city through Resolution No. 362 series of 1994 focus on the following concerns: environmental activities, entertainment activities, water supply, access discount: ancestral claims, city representation, priority to local business, retention of employees and priority to loci labor, revenue earnings to the city government, additional earning for the city government, housing, services, exclusion of affected barangays, sports and human resource development, time-table for operations and others.

The city council approved the resolution on September 14, 1994, for the approval of the lease agreement on October 19 of that year between the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) and the Fil-Estate-Penta Capital Consortium for the development of John Hay as a world-class integrated resort. # Aileen P. Refuerzo/PIO

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Moog celebrates Independence Day at Busol

BAGUIO CITY (June 17) — More than 130 employees of Moog Controls Corporation celebrated last Sunday’s Independence Day with an “Eco-Walk” at the Busol Watershed as part of the company’s commitment to help and preserve the environment.

“This is a meaningful way of celebrating our freedom day by planting tree-seedlings for our future generation and protect our watersheds,” Moog Baguio Trainers Club (MBTC) Tony Quodala said.

Each employee planted a seedling each in the “muyong” assigned to the Moog group. The Moog employees have been actively supporting the Eco-walk project for four years now.

The Moog employees were accompanied by employees of the City Mayor’s Public Information Office, Busol Task Force-DENR represented by Moises Anipew and Willy Cacdac who also provided a series of lectures on environmental advocacy.

Moog-Baguio is an American Corporation based in New York which specializes in aircraft precision control parts for AirBus and Boeing airplane and other related industrial applications providing job opportunities for the city at Baguio Export Processing Zone in Eoakan with a total of 692 employees.

The Baguio Regreening Movement (BRM) under Councilor Erdolfo balajadia provided the pine tree seedlings. Balajadaia lauded the company and its employees for the support of the city’s “Clean and Green”’ program. # Bong Cayabyab/PIO

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Cancellation of TSAs in Bakakeng up to DENR

BAGU1O CITY (June 17) — The cancellation of the controversial Townsite Sales Applications (TSA) over lots previously identified for the needs of Barangay Bakakeng Central located within the road right-of-way (RROW) of Marcos Highways and the Old Sto. Tomas Road is already in the hands of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). DENR is the government agency with the jurisdiction to cancel or revoke TSAs.

District Engineer Nerie’’Bueno informed Mayor Braulio Yaranon that the request of Bakakeng Central punong barangay Helen Miranda for the cancellation of the TSAs was referred to the DENR-CAR.

Yaranon earlier referred to Bueno and to City Building Official Engr. Oscar Flores Miranda’s request for the cancellation of the TSAs along with the provisional permits and building permits issued to private individuals Arlene de Leon, Margie Chan, Ida Dadpaas, Mark Hilario and Marvin Pulido for parcels of lot.

Barngay officials earlier applied for the said lots for its needs but were turned down because these were within the RROW. However, the barangay officials were stunned when the city engineering district granted the applications of these private individuals over the said lots and even issued RROW clearances paving the way for the processing of said TSAs.

The barangay then filed complaints which prompted an investigation by the DPWH. The department eventually issued a formal charge with preventive suspension against Nicolas, special agent Eduard Lunes and planning design chief Gil Muque.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) already filed necessary charges and issued a 90-day preventive suspension against Baguio City District Engineering Office assistant district engineer Nestor Nicolas and two other employees.

In issuing the clearance, Nicolas, according to Bueno, apparently “overlooked the fact that the certification was reckoned on in reference to the RROW of Marcos Highway and not the Old Sto. Tomas Road as required.” # Aileen P. Refuerzo

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Mayor orders removal of globe, smart ads in overpasses

BAGUIO CITY — Mayor Braulio Yaranon ordered the removal within se\en days of the advertisements of Globe and Smart Telecommunications painted on the roof of overpasses in the city.

In a letter to Baguio Panagbenga Flower Festival Association Inc. President Nelia Cid, Yaranon called the attention of Publicis-Dialog Inc., the marketing arm of the Panagbenga 2005. to remove the said painted advertising signs in pedestrian overpasses located at the University of the Cordilleras (UC) rotunda, Harrison and Magsaysay Avenue within seven days a’ their own expense.

“Failure to comply with this will give rise to legal action,” the mayor warned in the letter dated June 3.

The mayor’s move was based on (he findings and recommendation of the City Building and Architecture Oflice under Engr. Oscar Flores which maintained that the signs were not covered by any permit and thus violates the National Building Code and existing city ordinances.

Flores earlier advised Globe senior marketing manager Jojo Javillonar and Smart branch sales manager Louis Duntugan to remove the said signs within ten days but both said they have to thresh out the matter first with Publicis-Dialog.

Both firms said they were allowed to paint the overpasses as part of their memorandum of agreement for the sponsorship of the Panagbenga with the Publicis-Dialog.

Publicis-Diaiog vice president for marketing services Aura Chiqui De Villa in a subsequent letler to Globe said the painted sign was part of the media values granted Globe and Smart by the BPFFA for the sponsorship of the event. However, she said that the removal of the contested ads is but proper because the city granted only up to March 31 to display such.

De Villa said Publicis’ term of appointment with the Panagbenga had also expired “‘and as such, we arc no longer involved in any other activity that the (Panagbenga association) may be having.” # Aileen P. Refuerzo/PIO

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City population office conducts youth health training

BAGUIO CITY — Twenty-three young adults took part in the Adolescent and Youth Healtl Development Training conducted by the City Population Office last May 30-31 at the Health Services Office.

City population officer Zenaida Quijana said the training aimed to enhance awareness of the youth on fertility, sexuality and health and the risks and consequences related to reproductive health.

According to Population Program workers Elizabeth Bautista and Laarni Kubaron, adolescents should understand the risks and consequences of unsafe abortion and substance abuse.

Participants underwent capability building through trainings on adolescent reproductive health, interpersonal communication skills, youth organization and mobilization, project development, networking, and peer facilitations.

Other training activities focused on education, counseling, networking and core group form activities, informational-educational campaign development and reproduction, establishment of adolescent f youth center activities. # Aileen P. Refuerzo/PIO

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Mayor warns against business permit-in-process tactic

BAGUIO CITY (June 17) — Mayor Braulio Yaranon last week warned city government employees of sanction for aiding traders in operating their businesses while their application for business permits remains pending before the city treasurer’s office.

In his Administrative Order No. 84, the mayor noted that there has been evidence showing that many business establishments in the city were allowed to operate with the so-called permit-in-process scheme where their permits are under the care of certain employees moonlighting as bookkeepers or facilitators.

“Year in and year .out,-said businessmen operate with their permit remaining ‘in process,”3 the mayor said noting that the practice has also been rampant in areas where operating without business licenses is strictly prohibited like in the city market.

The mayor cautioned the employees that will be caught observing the practice will be dealt with accordingly. The mayor said the move aims to strengthen the city’s campaign against illegal businesses operating without licenses in the city.

He said this is part of the renewed campaign to enhance tax collection by maximizing existing income sources for the city government. # Aileen P. Refuerzo/PIO

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City health office assures safety against malaria

BAGUIO CITY (June 17) — City health officer Dr. Florence Reyes last Monday assured that the city is safe from malaria saying that the vector anopheles mosquito does not thrive in the city.

Reyes however advised the public to be wary of other diseases associated with the rainy season.

“If ever there will be cases, the patients got bitten by mosquitoes not in the city but in other endemic areas like maybe Mt. Province and Benguet but who were just brought to the city for treatment,” Reyes said. She also ruled out the possibility of a person-to-person transmission of the disease.

She however advised the public to remain on alert against typhoid fever, dengue fever, cholera and other rainy day diseases, cases of which are notable to rise during these times. Reyes said that residents should resort to conducting regular and massive clean-up activities to directly destroy mosquito breeding grounds and prevent these disease-carriers from multiplying.

As to meningococcemia cases, Reyes said there still were isolated cases in the city but the disease remained contained and the level of susceptibility of Baguio to meningococcemia at present is the same as that of any other place.She said the preventive measures against meningococcemia and other similar diseases particularly contact tracing and prophylactic medication are still in place. # Aileen Rufuerzo/PIO

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Mayor OK’s CME resolution

BAGUIO CITY (June 17) — Mayor Braulio Yaranon last week has approved the council resolution urging gas stations in the city to sell high quality bottled coconut methyl ester (CME) and for .public utility vehicles (PUVs) to patronize the same.

The resolution is anchored on city resolution 154, series of 2004 encourages all motorists, including local government departments and offices, to use alternative fuels to reduce pollution levels, which in turn supports Republic Act 8749 or the Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999.

CME reduces harmful exhaust gases from engines to promote better air quality, public health and environmental care. The use of 1% CMK in low sulfur diesel using a 3-year old engine reduces emission of paniculate matter (PM) by more than 60% and Nitrogen Oxide emission by 20%. This was the result of a study at Nihon University and Tokyo Metropolitan Research Institute (TMR1) in Japan, and Dacduk Institute in South Korea.

Savings are also realized as local emission test on local diesel and older engines show greater reduction of PM by as much as 80%. Fuei mileage also show that travel distance has increased from a low of 10% to a high of 30%, for an average of 17% depending on engine condition, studies show.

Studies also prove that coco diesel has excellent emission cleaning features and promotes .efficient combustion through its oxygen content.

Better acceleration and better ignition quality of diesel fuel is also boosted, as to studies. Other benefits include, cleaning of combustion chamber, fuel lines and fuel ports of accumulated carbon soot, gum,- varnish and other resinous deposits, restoration of engine efficiency and high lubricity, enhancing pump pressure for the operating efficiency of fuel injection pump and fuel injector units. # Julie G. Fianza/PIO

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Award of projects order recalled

BAGUIO CITY (June 17) — Mayor Braulio Yaranon last Monday recalled Administrative Order No. 40 series of 2005 which sought to award public works projects through lottery, it being contrary to law.

The order which sets guidelines in the award of public works projects funded from calamity and other funds of the city was issued by the mayor last March in the hope of giving all qualified contractors equal opportunity in the direct award of said projects.

However, it was said to be contrary to Republic Act No. 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act which mandates that the procurement of goods, materials, equipment, consulting services, and other services for government offices must be done through public bidding.

As per the quashed guidelines, qualified contractors would have been pre-qualified by the City Engineering Office (CEO) and City Buildings and Architecture Office (CBAO) to participate in a lottery for direct award of the projects.

The mayor made the move to address the unfair situation obtaining from the old practice or project awards where privileged contractors are able to corner projects to the detriment of small contracting firms. # Aileen P. Refuerzo/PIO

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