BAGUIO CITY – The City Council approved on third and final reading a proposed ordinance requiring a person to secure a written certificate from the barangay as a requirement in the commencement of the placement of utility lines and water pipelines, major roadway construction, or reconstruction, and other public improvement projects within the barangay, and providing penalties for violators.
The ordinance authored by Councilor Michael L. Lawana states that no street, lane, alley, road or public place in the barangay shall be broken or occupied for the purpose of laying conduits, ducts or pipes for electrical conductors or cables or wires and water pipes as well in major roadway construction or reconstruction and other public improvement projects except under a written certification from the barangay stating therein that the latter have already been appraised of the proposed project to be issued within 5 days from application.
The ordinance adds that failure of the barangay to act on the application for barangay certificate constitutes a waiver on the part of the barangay.
Under the proposed ordinance, the application shall be submitted with attached plans and specifications, notice to proceed, duration of the project and other pertinent documents pertaining to the project that will be implemented.
The ordinance underscores that submission of the pertinent documents is intended to serve as guidance of the barangay in its information, education and communication campaign regarding the nature, duration, commencement and completion of the project before its constituency.
According to the proposed city legislative measure, the barangay concerned shall prepare the necessary notice, announcement or notification regarding the project that will be implemented for the information of the residents living in the affected areas of the barangay.
The ordinance points out the contractor of the project will be principally held liable for the violation of any provision of the measure and that the violator shall be penalized by a fine of P5,000 notwithstanding the required compliance and submission of the above requirements.
Moreover, the barangay concerned will be authorized to obtain injunction and other appropriate reliefs or to pursue any other remedy authorized by law in additional to the prescribed fine.
The ordinance notes the barangay is empowered to enact ordinances as may be necessary to discharge the responsibilities conferred upon it by law or measure and to promote the general welfare of the inhabitants in the said area.
Subsequently, the barangay is an avenue for residents to ventilate their sentiments regarding issues and concerns affecting their welfare, security and well-being and that it has always been the shock absorber of all complaints, sentiments and criticisms of activities, projects, programs of the government agencies, private individuals, private companies and associations, the implementation and commencement of which were not informed to the people living in the said places.
The ordinance stipulates one of the purposes of the measure is to oversee the placement of utility lines, major constructions or reconstructions and other public improvement projects in the barangays.
By Dexter A. See