The Makati City Council made 263 local legislations in 2017, including ordinances and resolutions that promotes inclusive progress and supporting Mayor Abigail Binay’s vision of the city’s digital transformation.
The Council passed a total of 159 city ordinances and 104 resolutions in 49 regular sessions last year.
“We are fortunate to have such a hardworking Sangguniang Panlungsod which ensures that our initiatives conform to the law and uphold the best interest of our constituents,” said Binay.
Among the landmark legislations in 2017 were the amendment of the Public-Private Partnership Code and the approval of the terms and conditions of the city’s first digital PPP venture—the Makatizen Card, a universal ID card aimed to empower residents to participate in and benefit from the fast-rising digital economy.
The Council’s support also resulted in the launching of the Makati Public Wi-Fi System through another PPP venture of the city government, the Makatizen App, and the installation of Mobile signal boosters on city-owned lampposts, among others.
Binay acknowledged the joint efforts of the Office of the Vice Mayor, the Office of the Secretary to the Sangguniang Panlungsod, and the city Legal Department in ensuring that all legislations passed by the local council are aligned with national laws and have gone through proper legislative process.
The mayor also noted the due diligence observed by the City Council in the passage of major policies that affect many sectors to promote inclusive progress.
“The City Council made sure to involve the concerned sectors in the process through the conduct of public hearings and consultations which provided useful inputs for the enactment of responsive and beneficial policies,” she said.
In 2017, the Office of the Secretary to the Sangguniang Panlungsod facilitated 11 public hearings and consultations for ordinances, which include City Ordinance No. 2017-098 declaring a citywide curfew for minors from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. and imposing the suspension of city-provided benefits on parents and guardians of curfew violators.
To date, the city Legal Department is working on the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the curfew ordinance in collaboration with the Liga ng mga Barangay, Makati Social Welfare Department and Makati City Council for the Protection of Children.
Other ordinances promoting children’s safety include an ordinance banning the sale and possession of plastic knives and fan knives, plastic knuckles and similar toy-like objects in the city. Another one prohibits motorcycle drivers from carrying small children on board anywhere in the city.
It also regulates the conveyance of minors in tricycles by prohibiting drivers from carrying minors in front or at the back of the driver’s seat. Riding on bicycles, skateboards, roller skates, and similar conveyances without a protective helmet in the city has also been declared illegal by another ordinance.
The Council also passed ordinances granting full scholarship at the University of Makati (UMak) to qualified Makatizens 70 years old and above and granting incentives to graduates aged 60 and above from any public senior high school in the city, or from any UMak college or graduate program.
In 2017, the City Council also passed 104 resolutions, which include 34 on health and environmental sanitation; 10 on housing, urban development and resettlement; and eight on public information and mass communications.