The shuffle

Egay Uy

THE movement of some personnel in the Moreno administration from one office to another also resulted in the relinquishment of related designations or appointments.

In my case, the turnover of the reigns on the Roads and Traffic Administration also effectively placed in the hands of retired colonel Mario Verner Monsanto the chairmanship of the Task Force Hapsay Dalan and the Traffic Light-CCTV Task Force which had to oversee the completion of the traffic lights and CCTV systems of the city.

Literally, I have totally severed links to the RTA or any of its related and accessory groups. Calls made to me for assistance and reports of actual traffic conditions on the road are however still received and referred to the RTA for appropriate action. We belong to one Team CDO after all.

The foregoing notwithstanding, let me update you on the traffic light project. In the last quarter of 2017, the contractor was allowed until the end of December 2017 to finish the project.

True enough, the project ran fast since the deadline imposition. The weekly meetings with the contractor, as suggested by Mr. Teddy Sabugaa, now the city administrator and concurrently CSWD head, did the trick because hitches and delay-causing issues were expeditiously addressed right there and then.

Even then, as the deadline neared, the contractor found the imposed deadline too close. Weather conditions, clearances from the DPWH and its own contractors, and similar factors kept the traffic light contractor from finishing the project at the deadline set.

The exception report dated Dec. 28, 2017 that the contractor sent to the task force contained its firm commitment to turn over the project not later than Jan. 31 2018.  Once approved, this should be the final deadline, unless the new chairman of the task force would recommend otherwise.

In the meantime, I will have to fast-track familiarizing myself with the laws, ordinances and other issuances pertaining to business regulations and permitting requirements.

Aside from the local ordinances, the DICT, DILG and the DTI have issued Joint Memorandum Circular No. 01-2016 on Aug. 10, 2016 providing for a revised set of standards in processing permits and licenses in all cities and municipalities nationwide.  These standards have to be complied with both by the local government unit and the business sector.

Add to this the laws and ordinances pertaining to the regulation of movie houses or theaters and other places of amusement, especially now that it is business permit renewal time.

Another area in which I will continue working on is the price coordinating council, in close collaboration with the DTI Provincial Office. This week, we will be meeting to apprise ourselves with the effects of the “Train” taxation on basic goods. Then the CDO-CPCC shall be able to come up with the appropriate action plan.

Working in the public sector means forgoing resting if only to do justice to the functions entrusted to a public servant. We will just have to continuously shuffle.

(Lawyer Jose Edgardo Uy is serving as a city hall consultant.)