FOUR more proposed city ordinances got the nod from the attendees in a public hearing held at Enan Chiong Activity Center (ECAC) in Barangay East Poblacion, City of Naga, Cebu on August 16, 2024.
These new ordinances play a key role in the full implementation of the city’s health and medical care programs, as well as ensure public order and safety, with the following titles, to wit:
- PROVIDING FOR A COMMUNITY-BASED MENTAL AND DELIVERY SYSTEM IN THE CITY OF NAGA, CEBU AND APPROPRIATE FUNDS THEREOF;
- INSTITUTIONALIZING THE BLOOD PROGRAM FOR THE CITY OF NAGA, CEBU;
- PROHIBITING DRONE OPERATION WITHIN ONE HUNDRED (100) METERS FROM JAIL FACILITIES; AND
- ONE-POLE POLICY.
City Councilor Carmelino “Junjie” Navales Cruz, Jr., extensively discussed the first two health-related ordinances, which aimed at adopting an integrated and comprehensive approach to the development of the City Mental Health Care Delivery System; and institutionalizing the City of Naga, Cebu Blood Program in coordination with Department of Health, Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center-Blood Services Unit and Philippine Red Cross.
Both proposed ordinances require the creation of special committees or local health boards whose primary task is to perform general supervision, control and monitoring in the implementation of the programs.
Cruz, the 5th SP Majority Floor Leader, emphasized the importance of the support and cooperation of barangay officials and health care workers in the city’s efforts to make the mental health care and blood programs are readily available, accessible and affordable to the Nagahanons.
For his part, Atty. Dennis C. Aliño, City Jail Warden of the Bureau Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), explained the importance of enacting an ordinance prohibiting drone operations within 100 meters from BJMP-run facilities.
The call for the passage of an ordinance came in the wake of reports that unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) locally known as drones have been used to transport illegal drugs, deadly weapons, contrabands and even conduct surveillance on jail facilities or government premises, posing security risks thereof.
The no-fly zone of UAVs is in line with the Philippine Civil Aviation Rules 11 and Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) 21-14, which declares that “no person may operate small UAVs or RPAS in a populous area.” Jail facilities, pursuant to this rule, are considered congested and populous areas.
Meanwhile, Engr. Carlo Encabo, Engineer III of the City Engineering Office, presented before the attendees the proposed One-Pole Policy Ordinance, which regulates the installation, restoration and maintenance of overhead and underground cables or electrical lines of the Visayan Electric Company (VECO), Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT), Globe Telecom, Inc. and other public utility firms.
Once implemented, all overhead or dangling electrical wires or cables shall be removed, transferred and installed to one common pole, while redundant, idle and obsolete pole shall likewise be removed accordingly, Encabo said.
The proposed measure carries with it penalties or fines against any erring person, corporation or entity ranging from Php1,500.00 to Php4,000.00 and cancellation of permit.
The public hearing, the second to be held this year, ended shortly before 12 noon with a closing message of City Councilor Clint Isidro A. Chiong, the 5th SP Presiding Officer Pro Tempore.
