22nd SP REPORTS LEGISLATIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR CY 2020

The 22nd Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) headed by Vice-Governor Mario Eduardo C. Ortega generally fared well and can be considered exceptional in terms of achieving its set targets for 2020 as well as in comparison to the accomplishments for 2019, despite the challenges of the National and Global Health Emergency brought by the CoViD-19 pandemic.

A total of 54 regular sessions were conducted including one out-of-hall session and three special sessions which is 100% completion from the target number of sessions as per rule provided under RA 7160 that the sanggunian shall conduct a session once a week. Due to the imposition of community quarantine, the SP, headed by Vice Gov. Mario Eduardo C. Ortega, adopted the hybrid set-up in conducting its sessions using various e-governance applications and online applications, where board members can attend sessions via online video conferencing. Said modality was approved by the SP through an amendment of its Internal Rules of procedure under SP Resolution 476-2020.

In the Order and Calendar of Business or SP Agenda, a total of 988 communications, municipal ordinances, memos, draft resolutions and ordinances were received, calendared and were appropriately referred and/or tackled during the plenary session. From the items in the agenda, a total of 715 items were referred to appropriate standing committees for their study and recommendation. For items or issues arising from Privilege Speeches, Unassigned Business and other matters, a total of 59 referrals were endorsed to the appropriate lead committees as compared to the 99 referrals that were endorsed in 2019.

From January to December 2020, with a total of 905 referrals, the 22nd SP had acted on a total of 826 referrals for a 91.27% accomplishment rate based on the target for the said period. Meanwhile, there are only 78 referrals with pending action, that are currently referred to the appropriate committees.

A total of 44 privilege speeches of varied issues and concerns were delivered during plenary sessions of the year 2020.

One of the major final outputs of the SP is the enactment of timely and relevant policies in the form of ordinances and resolutions. There are 73 ordinances enacted by the 22nd Sangguniang Panlalawigan for 2020, which is a 331.8% accomplishment rate compared to the target of 22 ordinances for the 2020. In comparison with the accomplishment for 2019 of 41 ordinances, the 22nd SP is a plus-32 due to the ordinances passed related to issues brought by the CoViD-19 pandemic and other relevant issues that emerged during the imposition of the nationwide community quarantine.

Meanwhile, there are 22 ordinances enacted that are aligned and/or supportive of the vision and the initiatives of the province. Six ordinances fall under the Economic Dynamism and Competitiveness sector, 12 under the Resilient Communities sector and four under the Organizational Accountability and Governance Sector.

In terms of the approval of resolutions, there are a total of 1,426 approved resolutions during the year 2020, which is 285.2% accomplishment rate compared to the target for 2020 which is 500 resolutions. From the approved resolutions, there were a total of 37 resolutions that were directly aligned and/or supportive to the vision through the approved strategic initiatives.

As to the workings of the Standing Committees, a total of 1,677 committee meetings and 316 committee hearings were conducted and 631 committee reports were submitted by the 26 regular standing committees of the 22nd SP.

SP sessions open to the public accommodated a total of 88 guests for CY 2020, compared to the 208 guests accommodated for the year 2019. The steep decline of guest attendance is attributed to the CoViD-19 protocols.

Due to the shift of priorities upon the declaration of the state of national health emergency, the SP remains committed in enacting policies focused on CoViD-19 legislations, especially on response and recovery-related policies without taking for granted other vital legislations.

SP LEADS MANGROVE PLANTING IN BAUANG ECO-PARK

The Office of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) in partnership with the Local Government Unit of Bauang, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Unit, Philippine National Police Bauang, Bauang Fishing Group Consumers Cooperative and other stakeholders conducted a coastal clean-up and mangrove tree planting at the Bauang Bakawan Eco-Tourism Park on November 28, 2020.

300 mangrove seedlings were planted on a 300 sq.m. area of the Bauang mangrove forest. The Bauang Bakawan, found in a 162.42-hectare area in Barangays Pudoc and Parian Oeste of Bauang, La Union, is the house of 12 mangrove species that serve as protection from natural calamities and as livelihood of communities in the area. Likewise, it is a budding eco-tourism destination in the province particularly for nature lovers.

In her message, Mayor Menchie L. De Guzman said that more than a beautiful and fulfilling experience, planting bakawan is a mission to give back what is due to mother nature. She also informed that programs and projects are already laid out to improve the area that will eventually benefit the community and to realize their dreams of an improved quality of life.

The next task, the Mayor said, is to monitor the progress of the activity. The participants committed to return to the planting site to nurture what was been planted and the mangrove forest as a whole.

SP Secretary Donato A. Rimando explained that the coastal clean-up and mangrove tree planting activities are some of the components of the strategic initiatives of the Office of the SP coined as “LegislaTour Level-up.” These activities aim to provide developmental interventions, such as the tree planting activity and coastal clean-up and periodic progress monitoring in the area as the counterpart of the office in order to become a promising Agri-Tourism site. It is also the office’s contribution to the attainment of the La Union’s vision to be the “Heart of Agri-Tourism in Northern Luzon by 2025.”

PROVINCIAL SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT BOARD CONVENES

The Provincial Solid Waste Management Board (PSWMB) convenes on November 26, 2020 via video conference to discuss the status of implementation of the 10-Year Solid Waste Management Plans of La Union; review the draft ordinance on the prohibition of single-use plastic in La Union; present the proposed special waste management system; and give updates on the waste-to-energy projects in La Union.

Provincial Director Virgilio P. Sison of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, vice-chairperson of the board, presided the meeting. Members of the board were mayors of component city and municipalities, representatives of 1st and 2nd district of La Union, Chairman of Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) on Committee on Environment and Energy, Chairman of SP on Committee on Health, Provincial Health Officer, Provincial General Services Officer, Provincial Engineer, Provincial Budget Officer, Provincial Planning and Development Coordinator, Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer, Department of Science and Technology Provincial Director, Department of Trade and Industry Provincial Director, La Union Police Provincial Office Provincial Director, Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University President, Commission on Higher Education Regional Director, Chairman of the Board of La Union Vibrant Women, Inc., HMDC Manager, and President of Junkshop Association of City of San Fernando.

Representative from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Environmental Management Bureau Region 1, Ms. Gemmalyn De Guzman, presented the results of monitoring of implementation of solid waste management plans in La Union. Most of the LGUs are compliance with the various sections of the plan.

Representative of Office of the Provincial Governor-Environment and Natural Resources Unit presented the draft ordinance on the prohibition of single-use plastics and the proposed special waste management system for households and Local Government Unit-owned facilities.

Representative from Satrap Power Corporation was also invited to present the updates on the proposed waste-to-energy project in Bacnotan, La Union. Representative from the Ecological Solid Waste Solutions Incorporation was also invited to present their solid waste technology during the meeting.

The Provincial Government of La Union continues to initiate projects with partners for the conservation of the environment in La Union.

PGLU CONDUCTS BASIC SCUBA DIVING TRAINING

With the aim of protecting and conserving the coastal and marine habitat in the province, the Office of the Governor- Environment and Natural Resources Unit (OPG-ENRU) conducted a five -day Basic Scuba Diving Training at Ocean Deep Training Center, San Francisco, City of San Fernando, La Union on October 12-13, 2020 for the academics discussions and film viewing and November 24-26, 2020 for the water works series of actual diving.

The activity was participated in by eight staff from the City of San Fernando and the Municipal Coastal Local Government Units (LGUs) of Bacnotan, San Juan, Bauang and Agoo, La Union as well as staff from the ENRU and Office of the Provincial Agriculturist Fishery Division.

The need for local divers is essential to strengthen local staff capacity underwater. This will ensure their valuable assistance in the conduct of coastal resource assessment, monitoring and evaluation conducted by Department of Environment and Natural Resources / Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. Coastal Resource Assessment is used to evaluate the performance of program and/or projects set up by the government in managing the coastal resources. Its goal is to improve current and future management.

Moreover, improving the local staff capability will give them the opportunity to visualize the actual scenario under water and to recognize and confirm the need for management actions that were common in nature such as active management intervention, stronger enforcement, organizational strengthening and others. This will also encourage cooperation among stakeholders and prompt management response.

To capacitate all coastal LGUs in the province, the OPG-ENRU plans to conduct again another batch for the CY 2021. Trained coastal LGUs also ensure their active participation in any coastal management and develop programs, projects and activities.

PGLU Augments Relief Packs for Luna

With the directive of Gov. Pacoy, the Provincial Government of La Union (PGLU) took immediate action in the request of the Municipality of Luna for an augmentation of 768 relief packs on November 25, 2020 due to the increasing number of CoVid-19 cases in the municipality.
Representatives from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Provincial Engineering Office and General Services Office turned over the relief packs to the Local Government Unit which immediately distributed the goods to affected families in Barangays Alcala, Salcedo, Barrientos, Santo Domingo Sur and Magallanes.
As of November 25, 2020, the Municipality of Luna has a total of 25 active cases with the Barangays Alcala and Salcedo on strict lockdown.
The PGLU continues to give support to all LGUs in the fight against CoVid-19 in order to build a #StrongerLaUnion, a province worth living in.

BDH Advocates Women, Children Rights

LOVE THY WOMAN (R.A. 9262). In celebration of the National Consciousness Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC), Non Uniformed Personnel Irish C. Fangwa from the City of San Fernando Police Station talks about womens’ rights on November 25, 2020 to the patients and watchers at the Out Patient Department of Bacnotan District Hospital. NUP Fangwa also enumerated and discussed the acts of violence committed against women.

La Union Persons Deprived of Liberty Empowered

A total of 28 Person Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) of the La Union Provincial Jail (LUPJ) empowered during the focused group discussion (FGD) on Self-reflection at the Provincial Jail in Barangay Camansi, City of San Fernando on November 25, 2020.

The participants focus on the topic “Myself as a Person” where the detainees learned that knowing themselves is true wisdom. Everybody shared their strengths and weaknesses.

The said activity is a prevention and management strategy of the Provincial Government of La Union (PGLU) through the LUPJ in collaboration with the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) to reduce the burden of COVID-19 Pandemic to the inmates since prison visits are temporarily suspended not only in La Union, but nationwide.

To reduce boredom among the detainees, the LUPJ made adjustments to prison substitute activities where access to equipment and the internet are provided free of charge to contact their loved ones. Secured phone handsets are also available and other communication methods were encouraged, such as writing letters, increased access to telephone landlines, and mobile phones through the use of voicemail and videocall service like group chats or SMS.

Moreover in LUPJ, measures have been implemented to reduce disease transmission within prisons through infection control protocols (proper entry screening and mass screenings inside detention facilities, avoiding overcrowding, staggering meal and recreation times and face coverings), signages, information education awareness and creating isolation units for infected patients to halt the disease’s further spread.

The effects of the pandemic are considerable but they also create opportunities for new, innovative methods of supporting detainees and for strengthening links between health care, criminal justice, and government agencies, with potential long-lasting benefits. The PGLU shares the BJMP’s view that detainees deserve the same standard of health care as in the community.

PGLU Bans Swill Feeding of Hogs

The Provincial Government of La Union has intensified its measures against the African Swine Fever (ASF) through the enactment of Provincial Ordinance No. 257-2020 Prohibiting Swill Feeding of Pigs or Hogs in the Province of La Union.

This ordinance was enacted after the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian (OPVet) reported confirmed ASF cases in 12 component LGU’s in La Union whose hogs, particularly from backyard farms and one commercial farm of 680 raisers were infected with the virus culling hundreds of pigs.

The OPVet identified swill feeding as a carrier of the ASF. Although swill feeding is not totally prohibited within households, there is a need to ensure that we do not mix it with pork products to avoid the transmission of virus.

The ordinance was passed by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan led by Vice Gov. Mario Ortega on November 24, 2020 during the 74th regular session of the 22nd SP.

This ordinance was a contingency measure in order to prevent the spread of said virus and to temporarily discontinue the giving away and selling of food waste to hog raisers in the province. It would also further boost the province’s measure in ensuring that ASF will not affect the hog industry.

Further this will prevent the virus to infect more populations of hogs in the province and neighboring provinces which might possibly result to a more serious economic and health effects not only to the affected provinces but the entire country.