Some Hallmark Legislation Passed by the Sangguniang Bayan Over the Years

The Sangguniang Bayan of Balete has been recognized regionwide as 1st Runner Up in Excell Search - Local Legislation category since 2009. Some of the factors that contributed to this feather on its cap are those hallmark legislation it has enacted over the years. They are as follows:

• Code of General Ordinances
• Environment Code
• Gender and Development Code
• Children and Youth Welfare Code
• Investment Incentive Code
• Revenue Code
• Zoning Ordinance
• Omnibus Traffic Ordinance

It has also introduced innovative legislative interventions to address certain special needs of the Baleten-on community, such as:

• Balete Labor Market Information System Ordinance
• Balete Community College Charter

A Bloodletting Activity to Celebrate PCL Week

The Sangguniang Bayan members observe the Philippine Councilors League Week not by touring around but by sponsoring a bloodletting activity municipal-wide.

The PCL National Executive Board has declared September 2-7, 2011 as this year's PCL Week. Several events have been designed for its members to get involve in, such as seminars, eco-tours, etc. SB Balete however opted organizing a multi-sector bloodletting activity on September 3, 2011 to be held at the Mayor Teodoro F. Calizo, Sr. Memorial Civic Center. This whole day activity will be participated by the Philippine Red Cross, the Liga ng mga Barangay, the Philippine National Police, the Bureau of Fire Protection and the Balete LGU employees Multi-purpose Cooperative. PCL Aklan pledged to provide meal and snack allowances to facilitators and contributors respectively.

The Municipal Officials with Red Cross Aklan 

A simple opening ceremony will usher the red letter day with Mayor Bobby and Aklan PCL President Jonna Morales-Torres as honored guests.

Enchanting Balete

The Honorable Roman R. Villaruel, Vice Mayor and presiding officer, and the Secretary to the Sanggunian attended yesterday's (July 5, 2011) Regional Forum on Transparency and Accountability in Local Governance at the Iloilo Grand Hotel, Iloilo City. Mayor Bobby was not able to attend the occasion as he has committed ahead to attend to a very important litigation involving the stake of the LGU on the Balete Public Market.

On a short notice (one week prior), the DILG which is the organizer of the said forum, invited the LGU officials to present a PowerPoint presentation of not more than 20-minutes highlighting the impact and the opportunities brought by the Seal of Good Housekeeping (SGH)/Performance Challenge Fund (PCF) among the local officials and the Baleten-on constituents at large. The organizer further specified the formula of the presentation (to guide us in threading the "Tuwid na Landas") which is as follows:

5 minutes of the LGU backgrounded;
5 minutes on the impact of PCF/SGH to officials and constituents;
5 minutes on the status of PCF project implementation; and another
5 minutes on the opportunities to maximize SHG/PCF impact. 

We were informed that no less than the Secretary of the DILG will grace the occasion. Thus, in response to the invitation, we hurriedly came up with a photo-story to show the impact of such program in our municipality.

We opted of showing--instead of telling what we've done as we deemed all the audience to such forum to be well-informed and are tired of "hearing" stories of success. We wanted to make an impression and we deemed too that 20-minute PowerPoint presentation will surely bore the audience. Sure enough, when we arrived at the venue, we came unnoticed. All were talking, everyone wanting to be heard. We were not even given a copy of the program. But we understand. We hold no grudges for such lapses. Later, we learned that we were the last to present--we who came from far-off place (a 3 and half hours one-way ride--we boarded a Ceres Bus around 5 in the morning and we're standing all the way to Iloilo as the bus was jump packed with commuters)--and were convinced that we made the right decision of doing away with the "telling".

The whole morning affair is typical of a forum. Lots of talking. All came with opinions. What impressed me most is that very brief message of Dr. Mayer of GIZ (Duetsche Gesellschalft fur Internationale Zusammerarbeit) who urged the pubic and civil servants (and technocrats) from refraining using too technical terms in communicating with the ordinary folks. Such is the first step to be taken if we wanted to be transparent and accountable, to generate their participation and active involvement in effecting change in their communities.

The attendees were thus weary and tired after lunch that most fell sleepy for the afternoon session--the presentation of the municipalities of Anilao and Balete--the only two municipalities on Region 6 to have won the 2010 Seal of Good Housekeeping Awards. Precisely that when it was our turn to present, they were glad and appreciative when Vice Mayor Villaruel announced that he won't be engaging them in boring narratives but for the 10 brief minutes, he will show them what Balete did for the PCF.

Copy of the photo story is uploaded in YouTube and can be viewed and downloaded at this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abHL_Z5EBck

The photo story we presented, modesty aside, made an impression and even enchanted many. All of the sudden, we who came in discreetly and unnoticed were suddenly thrust into the spotlight. A few mustered enough courage to have "photo opps" with us, asked for our cell phone numbers and sought to have a copy of the presentation we made.

Credits:
   All the photos found in the photo story were culled from the stock files of the various offices of the LGU. The MPDC staff rushed off onsite to update the documentation. The graphics were hastily done by this writer and by SB Patrick Lachica. The artworks were by Baleten-on artist Cip Lachica. The soundtracks were the Fairytale and One by One of Enya and a sax rendition of As the Deer by Bro. John.

Balete is not Balite

Resolution No. 069-sb2013 as captured from www.Scrbd.com

The Sangguniang Bayan adopted Resolution no. 069-sb2013 on February 3, 2011 in response to a call for help posted on Facebook by a Baleten-on OCW based in Vancouver, Canada. The overseas contract worker was having a hard time dealing with the Philippine Consulate in the area as she insisted that her town's name is "Balete" and not "Balite" as listed in the databank of that establishment. She was worried that it might affect her records thus her insistence that the DFA corrects its records concerning the town of Balete, Aklan.

Copies of this resolution were furnished the National Historical Institute as well as the Philippine Consulate in Canada through the Department of Foreign Affairs central office in Makati. Both agencies acted with haste to attend to the issue at hand. The occasion made way for the concerned agencies to exchange additional information that not only rectify their respective databanks but also enrich their knowledge on the historicity of Balete town.

See related stories at the following links:
  How Balete Got its Name
  Additional Sources on Local History
 When Legend Becomes History: The Case of the Battle of Agtawagon Hill
 Those Elusive Executive Order of Gov. Gen. Francis Burton Harrison 
 A Town By the Jal-o River: A Timeline 

The Children Code of Balete, Aklan

Policy and Principles

The local government of Balete recognizes the importance of effectively promoting, fully enhancing, and institutionalizing the survival, development, participation and protection rights of children within the framework of advancing general welfare in furtherance of integrated, sustainable and equitable development.

It believes in a holistic protection and development of all children through a strong partnership between and among government agencies, NGOs and the private sector, serving with the highest degree of professionalism and competence in an atmosphere of unity, solidarity and teamwork.


Rationale

a. To ensure the protection of children against all forms of abuse and exploitation;
b. To advocate for children’s rights and promote their welfare and development;
c. To ensure that children’s rights are given priority attention both in government and civil society;
d. To improve the quality of life of Baleten-on children enabling them to fully develop 

their potentials and participate in community life and nation building.

The code defines the roles and functions of various sectors operating in the municipality as far as children are concerned. It also outlines the programs and services the government ought to extend to protect and advance the interest of the children. Special concerns such as human trafficking, peonage of children, using girls as commodities in benefit dances, selling of liquor and cigarettes to minor, exposure to information communication technologies and children in conflict with law are given due attention. 

Read the full text of Ordinance No. 005-2010 at Scribd 

The Chainsaw Ordinance of Balete

Rationale:

a.      It is emplaced in the joint Executive-Legislative Agenda and Comprehensive Development Plan of the municipality that protection of the environment is ranked among the top priorities of the present administration;

b.      The operation of chainsaw in the Local Government Unit remains unregulated that its impact on the environment is not monitored properly by the authorities

c.       There have been complaints from landowners that their property are being denuded without their consent and prior knowledge

LGU Policy:


       It is the policy of this administration to ensure full protection of its natural resources to make for a balance and sustainable ecology for the present and future generation. Toward this end, the Local Government shall pursue a thorough program to eliminate illegal logging and other forms of forest destruction through the use of chainsaws, thus, the passage of this ordinance. 


       The Sanggunian enacted this ordinance after a series of meetings and public consultation with various stakeholders on February 17, 2011. The Sangguniang Panlalawigan subsequently approved it after having found it to be within the legislative power of the Sangguniang Bayan.

Read the full text of the ordinance at http://www.scribd.com/doc/57167476/Ord-No-006