The Baguio City Council has approved on second reading and for publication a proposed ordinance that will institutionalize the Pasadang Pambarangay as a regular, continuing, and non-partisan City Government program, bringing essential health, social welfare, environmental, information, and community development services directly to all 128 barangays.
Principally authored by Liga ng mga Barangay President Rocky Aliping, the proposed ordinance will make Pasadang Pambarangay a regular, mandatory, and continuing program of the City Government, with annual budgetary support to ensure the uninterrupted delivery of mobile government services across the city’s 128 barangays, regardless of political transitions or changes in administration.
The City Mayor’s Office, through the Special Services Division (SSD), will serve as the lead implementing unit responsible for planning, scheduling, logistics, and monitoring the program. It will coordinate with the City Health Services Office (CHSO), barangay officials, the Liga ng mga Barangay Baguio City Chapter, participating national government agencies, and other public and private stakeholders.
Each Pasadang Pambarangay deployment will provide a range of services covering health and medical assistance, social welfare programs, information and education campaigns, environmental protection and sustainability activities, and community development and capacity-building initiatives.
The program will cover all 128 barangays on a rotation-based schedule throughout the year. Activities will be held in accessible community locations such as barangay multipurpose halls, public covered courts, and other designated open spaces, in coordination with barangay officials and district health centers.
The ordinance will appropriate P500,000.00 annually from the City Government budget under the City Mayor’s Office for the program. Any additional funding needed in succeeding years may be incorporated into the regular or supplemental city budget, subject to approval by the City Council and existing budgeting and auditing rules.
It will also require the participation of barangay officials, community volunteers, sector representatives, and residents in planning and implementing each deployment. The SSD will establish mechanisms for communities to help identify their needs before each outreach activity, assist in localized logistics, and evaluate the services provided afterward.
The SSD will likewise establish a monitoring and evaluation system and submit a performance and compliance report to the Sangguniang Panlungsod after each deployment cycle. The report will include participant turnout, an itemized account of resources used, identified service gaps, and best practices that can guide improvements in succeeding activities.
To expand the services available during each deployment, the City Government may enter into partnerships and memoranda of agreement with national government agencies, private institutions, medical associations, academic institutions, and civil society organizations. These partnerships may provide additional manpower, technical expertise, specialized equipment, and material donations without unnecessary additional cost to the City.
Finally, the ordinance will require Pasadang Pambarangay to remain continuous and non-partisan. Political campaign materials and partisan logos will be prohibited during and within the premises of program activities, while implementation will continue regardless of changes in political leadership or administration.
The proposal will undergo public consultations and city council deliberations as the next legislative steps. **Jordan G. Habbiling
