APRIL 17, 2015

NR # 3804B

Revision of the century-old Baguio City charter pushed

Baguio City Rep. Nicasio M. Aliping, Jr. is very optimistic that HB 4772 or the
proposed revised Charter of the countrys Summer Capital would finally be enacted into
law during the remaining months of the 16th Congress.
This is a re-filed bill seeking to revise the century-old charter of the City of
Baguio, Aliping stressed, noting that the bill was transmitted to the Senate on September
of 2014.
HB 4772 is a substitute bill to the original measure, HB 3463, principally authored
by the Hon. Aliping and approved by the House of Representatives on August 26, 2014.
The substitute bill was defended during House plenary debates by the author himself and
Rep. Pedro B. Acharon, Jr., chairman of the sponsoring Committee on Local Government
which endorsed the same under Committee Report No.359.
The primary objectives of the revised Charter include the settlement of the
boundary dispute of the city with the adjoining municipality of Tuba, effectively
implement the city governments land use development plan, and address the problem in
the disposition of alienable and disposable public lands within the Baguio town site
reservation, Aliping said.
The revised charter, Aliping stressed, would surely promote genuine and
meaningful political, social, and fiscal autonomy for the city government to continue to
sustain and improve its development as a self-reliant community and a more effective
partner in the attainment of national goals.
With Rep. Jose Christopher Y. Belmonte and Rep. Ronald M. Cosalan as co-authors
as per Committee Report No. 3463, HB 4772 seeks to revise and codify the old charter of
the City of Baguio which was enacted and made effective on September 1, 1909 by virtue
of Section 2540 2574 of the Revised Administrative Code of 1917, as amended.
Hon. Aliping recalled that the bills revising the citys charter were filed during the
13 Congress (HB 3617), in the 14th Congress (HB 2813), and in the 15th Congress (HB
121) for the same objectives.
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HB 4772, the author pointed out, carries the same objectives given that these
concerns continue to weigh heavily on the City and, more importantly, the proposed
statute would make the charter adapt to developments that have evolved since the
enactment of the original charter in 1909.

He also recalled that consultations and dialogue with all stakeholders were
conducted after the Presidents veto of HB 121 that was approved by the 15th Congress.
Although this measure is substantially the same as that approved during the 15 th
Congress, changes were made to address the objections raised in the presidential veto
message, Aliping assured.
In particular, HB 4772 provides: SEC. 3. The City of Baguio: Territorial
Boundaries. --- The City of Baguio, a highly-urbanized city also popularly known as the
Summer Capital of the Philippines, shall comprise the present territory of the city of
Baguio.
The same section likewise states: The foregoing provision shall be without
prejudice to the resolution by the appropriate agency or forum of any boundary dispute or
case involving questions of territorial jurisdiction, as well as, agreements or exchange of
portions of territories between the City of Baguio and the adjoining local government
units. Any such resolution or agreement shall be appended thereto. (30) dpt