VM gives 8.5 rating to outgoing Council

OUTGOING Vice Mayor Bernard Al-ag gave a rating of 8.5 out of 10 to the 18th City Council, which ended with its farewell session yesterday.

“I will give us a rating of 8.5 based on our performance, attendance and legislation,” Al-ag said at the sidelines of the farewell session.

In Al-ag’s accomplishment report, he said they conducted a total of 151 sessions in the last three years and passed and enacted 3,294 resolutions and 790 ordinances.

According to him, the Council’s achievements will shape Davao in the next 20 years.

“We added more than P1 billion… through the enactment of the revenue code. We have major projects in terms of infrastructure, transportation,” said Al-ag, a three-term councilor who assumed as the leader of the city council after then Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte resigned on Dec. 25, 2017.

Al-ag noted of the major projects that the 18th Council endorsed and approved.

“This Council also endorsed to the NEDA the expansion of our airport and the seaport, among others. Another major project approved under this Council is the Waste to Energy project,” Al-ag added.

Based on his accomplishment report, Al-ag also mentioned some landmark legislation they passed including the strategic environmental partnership agreement between the City Government and the City of Kitakyushu, Japan; the electronic or online system of payment as an alternative mode of payment of taxes, fees, charges and other impositions due to the city government; the creation of Film Development Council of Davao City; the construction of a drug abuse treatment and rehabilitation center in Barangay Malagos;

the amendment to the 2005 Revenue Code of the City of Davao; the establishment of Violence Against Women (VAW) desk and protocol in handling VAW cases at barangay level; the prohibition of drinking or consuming of alcoholic beverages in public streets, sidewalks, public parks and playgrounds and other public areas; the recognition of the rights of Muslim women to wear hijab, niqab or burqa in school campuses, workplaces, commercial establishments and other private or public premises; and recently the approval to allow eco-tourism and agro-tourism activities in Marilog and Paquibato Districts.

Al-ag also noted that they issued development permits and location clearances issued: four malls, six commercial buildings, 10 hotels, 18 condominiums, and 42 subdivisions.

On transportation, Alag also mentioned that their legislation paved way for a transport system that will contribute to a major shift to the current one.

“This is the council that approved the transportation roadmap that we will shift to bus system. This is the council that approved the monorail project and the Mindanao Railway Project that will soon be implemented,” he said.

He said the 18th Council approved the Transportation Roadmap of Davao City towards development of a Public Bus system, pedestrian walkway system, private transport and freight system; the resolution favorably endorsing to NEDA the development of a Mono Rail Project; the resolution favorably endorsing the Mindanao Railway Project; the resolution for favorable endorsement of the expansion of Davao Airport and Sasa Seaport.

He also mentioned the Bulk Water supply Project in Barangay Tamugan that will become the major source of potable water for Davao City ensuring a stable water supply in the next 50 years.