Updated: Jan 9
THE Sangguniang Panlungsod, as the legislative body of the city, plays a crucial role in shaping the city’s future. Tasked with enacting ordinances, approving resolutions, and appropriating funds for the general welfare of the city and its inhabitants, its mandate is enshrined in the "Local Government Code of 1991," specifically detailed in Section 458.
Under the leadership of Vice Mayor Bebot Rodriguez, the 20th City Council has remained steadfast in its commitment to this mandate. However, the legislative process requires thorough legal review, and all proposed legislations must pass through the scrutiny of the City Legal Office. This office is responsible for providing comprehensive legal services to the City Government, supporting various departments and agencies, and addressing the legal needs of all barangays. Given the current workload faced by the City Legal Office, the timely enactment of many proposed ordinances has been affected.
Recognizing this challenge, Vice Mayor Bebot has spearheaded an initiative to streamline the legislative process without compromising legal integrity. She has proposed the "Legal Services Division Ordinance of Cagayan de Oro City," aiming to establish a dedicated legal services division directly under the Office of the Sangguniang Panlungsod.
The proposed Legal Services Division will be directly overseen by the City Secretary and led by an Attorney III. This division will include several plantilla positions, each with specified educational and eligibility criteria, work experience, and other qualifications. The Attorney III, as division chief, will coordinate with the City Legal Office and other city government offices and agencies as required by the Vice Mayor or any City Council member to provide legal opinions and manage an integrated legal information system within the division.
The good vice mayor believes that as the city continues to develop, there is an urgent need for timely legislation addressing a wide range of issues—from infrastructure and public safety to health, education, employment, and environmental sustainability. By proposing the Legal Services Division, she envisions a more efficient legislative process that can keep pace with the city's dynamic needs.
Updated: Dec 23, 2024
WE live in a world abundant with food choices, and for many of us, meat—like the beloved Filipino dish, lechon—holds a central place on our tables. Unless you are a vegan or vegetarian, meat is likely a staple in your diet and a key source of nutrition. However, the safety and quality of the meat we consume depend heavily on rigorous inspection standards.
In 2021, around 1,100 backyard hog raisers in the city were severely affected by the African Swine Fever (ASF), leading to the culling of 4,600 pigs. In response, the city government released a total of ₱9 million in indemnification funds for the affected farmers and hog raisers. As of a 2024 report by the Department of Agriculture (DA), the city's ASF status was downgraded from 'red' (infected) to 'pink' (buffer zone), signifying improvement but highlighting the ongoing need for vigilance against ASF.
Believing that the highest standards of meat safety is paramount for public health, Vice Mayor Bebot Rodriguez filed a proposed legislation titled "The Meat Inspection Code of Cagayan De Oro City" on May 17, 2024.
This legislation aims to modernize and strengthen the existing regulations, which have remained largely unchanged for the past 30 years. By addressing issues related to processing, marketing, and the proper inspection and preservation of meat products, this proposal seeks to enhance public health and consumer confidence in our city’s food supply.
Central to the proposed legislation is the protection of human and animal health from various risks. It is designed to shield consumers against zoonotic diseases, meat-borne infections, and hazards associated with residues from animal treatments.
Additionally, it aims to ensure the safety of meat handlers from occupational risks, safeguard livestock from diseases, and protect both consumers and the meat industry from economic losses due to substandard products.
Vice Mayor Bebot collaborated closely with the City Veterinary Office (CVO) in drafting this legislation to ensure the safety and quality of meat products available to the public.
The proposed ordinance establishes the City Meat Inspection Service (CMIS) within the CVO, a specialized division aimed at systematizing meat inspection and control, ensuring that every step — from farm to table — adheres to the highest standards of safety and quality.
Updated: Dec 16, 2024
FEBRUARY is love month and national arts month! And what better way to celebrate love than to embrace the creative genius of Filipinos and the vibrant culture of the Philippines?
With this year’s theme, “Ani ng Sining, Bayang Malikhain”, the Philippines takes pride in recognizing the bountiful harvest of an art-loving Filipino nation, valuing imagination, innovation, and artistic expression as essential components of our identity and national development.
Although our country is known for grand festivities and colorful celebrations, it is crucial to acknowledge the existence of constraints and barriers that impede the growth of our creative industries. Hence, Vice Mayor Bebot Rodriguez has submitted the proposed ordinance institutionalizing the establishment of the Tsada Oro Film Academy (TOFA) and the holding of the annual Tsada Oro Film Festival (TOFF).
The TOFA, once established, will play a pivotal role in organizing the annual film festival, preferably scheduled for August to coincide with the city fiesta, preserving films which depict the city’s notable places and people as well as cultural, historical, and socio-political realities, and providing full support to the local film industry, facilitating its participation in regional, national, and international competitions and conferences.
Through this initiative, VM Bebot hopes that Cagayan de Oro City will become a melting pot of filmmaking industry in the country, thereby fostering its growth to contribute to the city’s economy and create job opportunities for people who wish to be in the creative industry.
In a committee hearing conducted by the Committee on Tourism, the city council heard the plea of creative artists, filmmakers, and other cultural practitioners in the city who have brought pride to the city and helped boost our local economy.
VM Bebot, in her dedication to inclusive governance, personally conducted a public meeting and consultation with local artists to better understand their hopes and challenges.
By bridging the gap between celebration and action, this aspiration of the good Vice Mayor places Cagayan de Oro on the pedestal of artistic excellence, not only during the arts month or the love month but for the years to come.