USP asks city council to approve grant for codification of ordinances

The University of Southern Philippines has asked the city council to approve the proposed P2.1 million grant for the next two phases in the codification of the city’s ordinances.

In a letter, the USP Center for Local Governance enumerated the specifications that would justify the P2.1 million budget, saying that the amount “is the most logical, realistic and sound” considering the complicated processes and kind of deliverables Phases 2 and 3 would entail.

The center called for a special board meeting early this month to deliberate and decide on the concerns earlier raised by some city councilors and a consultant of the city relative to the appropriation of the research grant. The grant would be availed from the city’s NGO Financial Assistance Fund.

The center said that a P2.1 million budget would ensure a cost-effective and cost-efficient research process without delay for it to be finished in six months.

“Based on these premise and analysis, we strongly believe that the proposed P2.1 M as research grant to do Phase II and Phase III of the Codification Project is most logical, realistic, and sound, considering its complicated processes and kind of deliverables,” the letter reads.

The center said that all listed activities in the proposal are important including the hands-on training and coaching of designated personnel who will use and handle the active, loaded computer system.

This, the center said, is intended to ensure that the computer system would be retrievable and easily updated and upgraded in the coming years.

The center also said that all committed deliverables are vital to create the significant domestic and international impact and uses of the Cebu City Ordinances code books.

In a graph on cost analysis and benefit ratios, the center said that P1 million would be spent for implementing the second phase of the project, which would include categorizing, classifying and segregating the ordinances. It would also include the drafting of the code books and imprinting and CD-Rom in coordination with CODECOM.

Meanwhile, Phase 3 would include incorporating revisions; editing and finalization; printing of code books with CD-Rom in kits; turnover of active, loaded computer system with printer after approval of the city council and uploading information to the official website of the city government.

The move to codify the city’s ordinances commenced in 2001 after the city council approved a resolution of Councilor Gerardo Carillo, which called for the creation of a commission that would codify the existing ordinances. — Joeberth M. Ocao/QSB