Airport safety Ordinance

The City Council finally approved yesterday in third and final reading the Airport Safety Ordinance which I authored.

Oct 2 Session

I voted for the approval of 52 items under first reading yesterday and the legislative authority for the privatization of the Buhangin Public Market on third reading.

Thereafter, I again presided the session. Acting vice mayor Mabel Acosta had to take her lunch break.

Approved were the Shelter Code on its second reading and 14 items under suspended rules including the Resolutions on Myanmar and on Travel Advisories, which I authored but presented on the floor by councilors Leo Avila and Susabel Reta, respectively.

Travel advisories

Vice Mayor Sara Duterte suggested that we pass a Resolution regarding the travel advisories which affect the city. She said the Davao City Chamber of Commerce & Industry is likewise working to request foreign embassies to be specific with these travel warnings.

I have drafted one for the City Council's consideration tomorrow. Please click here.

Committee hearing

I will preside today in two committee hearings:

> Committee on Trade, Commerce & Industry - Request of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce for exemption from the Signage Ordinance for the Davao Trade Expo next month;

> Commitee on City-owned Real Estate Properties - Request of Barangay Catalunan Pequeno for the use of a 200 sq. meters lot for its Barangay Enterprise Center (I am the vice chair of the Committee and was asked by our chair, Councilor Vic Advincula, to preside)

Sept 25

Vice Mayor Sara Duterte was at City Hall as acting city mayor and our speaker pro-tempore Councilor Mabel Acosta had to leave for a conference in Dumaguete, so I was asked again to preside over our session yesterday.

Debated were several provisions of the proposed Shelter Code, the privatization of the Buhangin Public Market and the request for re-classification by Robinsons Land. The latter was the only item which called for the division of the house; with an 8-3 vote, the motion was lost. Read the blogger's accounts of this particular issue at Istambay sa Mindanaw and Alleba Politics

Other items discussed were under suspended rules, among which were: 34 barangay supplemental budgets; exemption of Medco from the signages Ordinance for the BIMP-EAGA conference; and various commendations.

Sept 18 Votes

Approved on First Reading in yesterday's session were my items on the request of the Chamber for exemption from the signage Ordinance for the Davao Trade Expo 07 next month, and the petition of the DACHEA on some problems besetting our employees union.

I voted for two measures granting the zoning reclassification of two urban poor housing projects.

I also partly presided over the session during the debate on the Shelter Code and discussion of items under suspended rules. Vice Mayor Sara Duterte was at City Hall as OIC Mayor, while Councilor Mabel Acosta, our acting presiding officer, had to rush to be by the bedside of his father at a local hospital.

Approved under my watch were 19 Barangay Supplemental Budgets, commendations for Sunstar, Pagcor's free medical clinic and MAJI's seminar on culture; and calls to stop the distribution of tainted toys from China.

Legislative Agenda

Priority Legislative Agenda of the 15th City Council

Economic Development

1. Enactment of the Tourism Code of Davao City

2. Enhancing agricultural growth through sustainable agriculture

3. Updating of the Investment Code to include ICT

Environment

1. Enactment of the Environment Code of Davao City

2. Enactment of the Fisheries Code of Davao City

3. Adoption of a Sewerage System for Davao City

Finance

1. Updating of local measures on taxes, fees & charges

2. Providing for more benefits to city employees

Infra & Urban Planning

1. Updating the Comprehensive Development Plan &

Zonification Ordinance of Davao City

2. Creation of the Davao City Zoo

3. Patubig sa Barangay Potable Water System

Peace & Public Safety

1. Proper Use of Streets Ordinance of Davao City

2. Ordinance on the Control of Volume on Karaoke

Public Administration

1. Establishment of new city facilities/institutions

a. City College (Tech/Voc, Aggie, Arts & Culture)

b. Overland Transport Terminal

c. City Hospital

2. Public Safety Department

3. Davao City Sports Commission

Social Services & Development

1. Comprehensive Health Care System of Davao City

2. Enhancement Legislation & Programs for Women and

Children

3. Enactment of the Older Persons' Welfare Code of Davao City

4. Enactment of the Food Safety Code of Davao City

Sept 3 Votes

I sponsored one item for 3rd and final reading yesterday on the Deed of Donation for the lots for open spaces and roads at the Yniguez Subdivision in Maa.

I also voted for the following measures:

Accreditation of the Sotoda Transport Cooperative; Agdao Multipurpose Cooperative; and Sasa Bolinao Fisherfolks Multipurpose Cooperative.

The Supplemental Budgets of over two dozen Barangays.

And the inclusion of the Pantat Festival at Los Amigos in our calendar of tourism activities.

August 28 Votes

At yesterday's session, I delivered a privilege speech on the sudden increase in airport terminal fees. I also authored two Resolutions, seeking the suspension of the increase in airport terminal fees, and the devolution of land transportation franchising to local governments.

In the absence of the chair of the Committee on Housing, I was asked to present six committee reports - three miscellaneous sales applications, two special use permits for cemeteries, and a deed of donation for a subdivision open spaces and road lots. I sponsored six Resolutions and one Ordinance for these committee reports.

New Resolutions

Our latest proposed Resolutions are now up at our wikislation:

Devolving land transportation franchising to LGUs, and

Public market reform program.

Please send in your comments and ideas. Thanks a lot!