Brgys asked to create standing cmtes on economic enterprises, commerce & trade

RESPONDING to the proposal of civil society organizations, the 19th City Council headed by Vice Mayor Raineir Joaquin V. Uy on Monday, June 28, adopted a resolution urging all Sangguniang Barangays of Cagayan de Oro to create their respective regular standing Committee on Economic Enterprises, Commerce and Trade, including the institutionalization of the Barangay Business Chamber (BBC) and its Board of Trustees (BOT).

This is to facilitate and crystallize the collective views of their constituents to recover from the effects of the pandemic, mitigate further economic costs and losses, and bolster economic resiliency as well as to enable the barangays to formulate appropriate and doable policies and plans for programs, projects and activities that will benefit its economy and improve the quality of life of their residents.

In a position paper, CSOs cited that barangays are granted by law, powers to accelerate economic development, enhance economic prosperity and social justice, preserve the comfort and convenience, upgrade the quality of life, and free the people from poverty, particularly in the aftermath of natural and man-made disasters.

According to the group, these powers allow barangays to consult with or facilitate the development of mechanisms with non-government sectors of the community. The position paper also cites that addressing the economic challenges complicated by the Covid-19 pandemic requires a whole-of-nation approach, of which the business sector is an active participant and mover for economic recovery, production, market development, and supply chain improvement.

Vice Mayor Uy, Councilor Ian Mark Nacaya, chair of the committee on economic enterprises, and Councilor George S. Goking, chair of the committee on trade and commerce, are the proponents of the resolution.