IN OUR column yesterday, we touched a little on the reaction of re-election seeker Third District Councilor Myrna Dalodo-Ortiz in her failure to land in the list of winners if the elections were held at the time the survey of the University of Mindanao-Institute of Public Opinion (UM-IPO) was conducted.
Dalodo-Ortiz said she was surprised by the result, considering that the feedbacks she gets from her leaders say otherwise. However, she added, she is hoping that the final survey – the election itself – will prove the survey result wrong.
We agree with the lady councilor from the third district since the respondents in most, if not all, surveys are a minuscule compared to the real number of electors within the jurisdiction of the district.
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And talking of Ms. Dalodo-Ortiz, we remember there were at least three resolution-ordinances that she primarily authored months (or is it years back?). These three local legislations, we believe, were expected to benefit both the city government and the people of Davao. That is why we are asking about the status of these ordinances, because it would be a waste of effort and thinking about how to make them attain the objectives the ordinances aim to achieve.
Actually we are referring to the following ordinances:
- An ordinance amending the provisions of Ordinance No. 0291-17, otherwise known as The 2017 Revenue Code of the City of Davao as amended, on Service Contractors, specifically Sections 5 Paragraphs (C30), 79, 97, 229, 231, and 233, to conform to the provisions of Art. A – of the Department of Trade and Industry- Department of Interior and Local Government (DTI-DILG) Joint Memorandum Circular No. 01, Series of 2021, and the Department of Finance Circular No. 001-2022
This Ordinance removed the Business Permit Fee requirement for delivery riders, which the local lawmakers eventually decided that such fee is a financial burden to delivery riders. Through the amended Ordinance, delivery riders will instead pay an “Occupational Permit,” which is considerably lower than the Business Permit fee.
- The Ordinance granting tax amnesty on real property taxes and special levies on real property in view of the enactment of Republic Act No. 12001.
This ordinance provides for the economic relief of real property owners whose taxes have accumulated over the years after the owners are unable to pay the same as scheduled. Thereby adding up the penalties and surcharges.
- An Ordinance authorizing the City Mayor to enter into, and sign for and on behalf of the City of Davao, a Memorandum of Agreement with Apo Agua Infrastructura Inc., relative to the establishment of Trust Accounts pursuant to the Department of Energy (DOE) Circular No. 08-0021.
A copy of this ordinance which we have secured because of our personal interest on the objective of the agreement, tells us that the local legislation provides that the City of Davao may secure financial benefits on means agreed at which can be used for programs beneficial to the City especially to communities directly affected by the Bulk Water Production and Delivery Project
The projects eyed to be funded from the funds held in trust include livelihood, reforestation, watershed management, enhancement of health services to areas concerned, as well as access roads.
There is no doubt that all three local legislations are very beneficial to both the city and the people. Now we want to know from Councilor Myrna Dalodo-Ortiz whether or not all three ordinances are already fully implemented.
We are, however, more interested in the present status of the third ordinance mentioned herein – the agreement with Apo Agua for the establishment of trust accounts. The Davaoenos, especially those residing in the third district, where the Bulk Water processing plant and the sources of the surface water it utilizes are located.
Projects on ecology and environment protection in the Calinan and Marilog areas are very critical in preserving the water flowing to the Tamugan River, the main source of the water processed by Apo Agua before it is delivered to the Davao City Water District (DCWDF) reservoirs.
The health of the people in the areas encompassed by the Apo Agua operation must be closely monitored by providing more health services accessible to them.
For certain, healthy communities thereat will ensure clean water flowing from the uplands down to the lowlands.
So, we feel it imperative that the primary proponent of the said ordinance in Councilor Ortiz, can give the people of Davao what is the current stage of the Trust Fund establishment so they will know where the third district councilor should start in pursuing the objectives of the mentioned Ordinance.
