Republic of the Philippines } Hucst dr ixEPRESTNTATIVES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quenarcay RECEINED,
DATE:

Seventeenth Congress awe: Sapih
First Regular Session BY
1554 .
HOUSE BILL NO. L pceesannoN UNIT:
SLL SI ks
Introduced by Honorable Mark O. Go

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to create the Baguio City, La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, Tuba
and Tublay Development Authority (BLISTTDA).

The City of Baguio and its nearby municipalities have so much to offer for
the growth of business, agriculture and tourism. Baguio City which is the summer
capital of the Philippines is famous for its heritage and landmarks like Burnham
Park, Wright Park, Mansion House, Mines View, among others; La Trinidad, with
its strawberry farm and beautiful roses; Itogon, with its hot springs and hanging
bridge; Sablan, with its beautiful waterfalls; Tuba, with its caves and waterfalls;
and Tublay, with its caves and the Asin hot springs. These spots are just few of the
places and interests foreign and local tourists are excited to visit and see.

With the passage of time, however, the problems of the environment,
tourism, traffic, water supply, waste management and the provision of basic
services in these attractive tourism places have become more evident. The influx
of tourists and the increase in the number of vehicles, without the corresponding
expansion of roads, as a result, cause daily traffic gridlock. The economic and
social affairs of Baguio City and nearby municipalities are now more difficult to
manage.

This proposed measure intends to centralize and oversee the development
efforts and initiatives which deal with the challenges and problems confronting the
City of Baguio and nearby municipalities. The proposed BLISTTDA will render
services that have wider coverage and impact. It will help rationalize the usage of
infrastructures and thoroughfares, transport and traffic management including the
institution of a single ticketing system. In a larger scale, this proposed bill intends
to build alternative roads that would bring tourists straight to their intended
destinations. In this manner, traffic jams will be abated, carbon emission will be
lessened and intended activities for individuals will be more manageable.

Baguio City and its adjoining municipalities were also beset with solid waste
management problems. Thus, this proposal aims to provide engineered sanitary


landfill and treatment facility for solid wastes acceptable to the city and all the
adjoining municipalities. Included in the bill are the provisions for better flood
control and management system linkage. In times of calamities and disasters,
programs and policies will be adopted to address public safety, preparedness and
preemptive measures and rescue operations in coordination with national agencies.

Abating the further deterioration of Baguio City and its neighboring
municipalities of La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, Tuba and Tublay is an arduous task.
The creation of the BLISTTDA offers a road map to bring back the glory days of
these places and to achieve a sustainable social and economic growth for the

interest and benefit of the people.

Hence, approval of this bill is earnestly requested.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Seventeenth Congress
First Regular Session
1554
HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Honorable Mark O. Go

AN ACT
CREATING THE BAGUIO CITY, LA TRINIDAD, ITOGON, SABLAN,
TUBA AND TUBLAY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (BLISTTDA),
DEFINING ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS AND PROVIDING FUNDS
THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. — It is hereby declared to be the policy
of the State to pursue the acceleration of social, economic and political
development of local government units and their communities through the creation
of special development and administrative areas that will ensure the efficient and
effective planning, supervision and coordination of essential basic services,
without prejudice to the autonomy of the local government units concerned.

SEC. 2. Creation of the Baguio City, La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, Tuba
and Tublay Development Authority (BLISTTDA). — The City of Baguio and the
municipalities of La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, Tuba and Tublay are hereby
constituted into a special development and administrative area subject to direct
supervision of the President of the Philippines.

The affairs of the City of Baguio and the municipalities La Trinidad, Itogon,
Sablan, Tuba and Tublay shall be administered by the Baguio City, La Trinidad,
Itogon, Sablan, Tuba and Tublay Development Authority (BLISTTDA), which
shall perform planning, monitoring and coordinative functions. It shall also
exercise regulatory and supervisory authority over the delivery of area-wide
services within the city and municipalities without diminution of the autonomy of
the local government units concerning purely local matters.

SEC. 3. Scope of BLISTTDA Services. — The services under the
jurisdiction of the BLISTTDA are those services which have wide impact and
transcend local political boundaries or entail huge expenditures such that it would
not be viable for said services to be provided by the individual local government
units (LGUs). These services include:


a) Development planning. Preparation of medium and long-term
development plans. Under its scope is the evaluation and packaging of
developmental projects; investments programming; and coordination and
monitoring of program and project implementation.

b) Urban Renewal, Land Use Planning, and Housing and Shelter.
Formulation, adoption and implementation of policies, standards, programs and
projects to rationalize and optimize urban land use taking into consideration urban
growth and expansion.

It shall address the rehabilitation and development of identified areas, and
the development of shelter and housing facilities with the provision for necessary
social services.

c) Transport and traffic management. Formulation, coordination, and
monitoring of policies, standards and programs that will rationalize the existing
transport operations, infrastructure requirements, the use of thoroughfares, and
promotion of safe and convenient movement of persons and goods.

It shall include the administration and implementation of all traffic
enforcement operations, traffic engineering services, and the institution of a single
ticketing system.

d) Solid Waste Disposal and Management. Formulation and
implementation of policies, programs and projects for the proper and sanitary
disposal of solid waste. It shall likewise include the establishment and operation of
sanitary land fill, waste to energy, eco composting facility (ECR) and related
facilities and the implementation of other alternative programs intended to seduce,
reuse and recycle solid waste. ~

e) , Flood Control and Sewerage Management. Formulation and
implementation of policies, standards, programs and projects for an integrated
flood control, drainage and sewerage system.

8) Water Resource System. Formulation and implementation of policies,
programs and projects for a comprehensive water resource system which shall
include the establishment of harvesting and distribution facility.

g) Health and Sanitation, and Pollution Control. Formulation and
implementation of policies, standards, and programs to safeguard public health and
maintain sanitation. It shall ensure the promotion of ecological balance and the
prevention and control of environmental pollution.

h) Public Safety and Order. Formulation and implementation of
programs, policies and procedures to maintain public safety, including
preparedness for preventive or rescue operations during times of calamities and
disasters. It shall include the implementation of contingency plans: and
mobilization of resources for relief operations in coordination with national
agencies concerned.


SEC. 4. BLISTT Council. — There shall be a BLISTT Council, herein
referred to as the Council, which shall serve as the governing board and policy
making body of BLISTTDA to be composed of the governor of the Province of
Benguet, the representatives of Baguio and Benguet, the mayors of the City of
Baguio and the municipalities of La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, Tuba and Tublay.

The duly authorized representatives of the National Economic Development
Authority (NEDA), Department of Transportation, Department of Public Works
and Highways (DPWH), Department of Tourism, Department of Information and
Communications Technology (DICT), Department of Budget and Management
(DBM), Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), and
Philippine National Police (PNP) shall attend meetings of the Council as non-
voting members.

The Council shall be headed by a Chairman, who shall be appointed by the
President and who shall continue to hold office at the discretion of the appointing
authority. The Chairman shall be vested with rank, rights, privileges,
disqualifications, and prohibitions of a cabinet member.

The Chairman shall be assisted by a Vice Chairman for Planning, Vice
Chairman for Finance & Administration and a Vice Chairman for Operations, all
of whom are appointed by the President with the consent and concurrence of the
majority of the Council, subject to civil service laws, rules and regulations. They
shall enjoy security of tenure and may be removed for cause in accordance with
law.

The Vice Chairman for Planning must have not less than five (5) years
extensive experience in development and planning or must hold a master’s degree
in urban planning or related discipline.

The Chairman and members of the Council are entitled to allowances and
per diems in accordance with existing policies, rules and regulations on the matter.

SEC. 5. Powers and Functions. — The BLISTTDA shall exercise the
following powers and functions:

a) Formulate, coordinate and regulate the implementation of medium
and long term plans and programs for the delivery of services, land use and
physical development within BLISTT, consistent with national development
objectives and priorities. On the preparation and implementation of medium-term
investment programs for BLISTT-wide services, it shall indicate sources and
allocation of funds for priority programs and projects; ‘

b) Undertake and manage its programs and projects for the delivery of
specific services under its jurisdiction, subject to the approval of the Council. For
this purpose, the BLISTTDA shall create appropriate project management offices:

*


c) Coordinate and monitor the implementation of such plans, programs
and projects in the City of Baguio and component municipalities; identify
bottlenecks and adopt solutions to problems of implementation;

d) Set policies concerning traffic, coordinate and regulate the
implementation of all programs and projects concerning traffic management. To
seek assistance and cooperation, including assignment of personnel, from other
government agencies concerned if necessary. Install and administer. 4: single
ticketing system, fix, impose and collect fines and penalties for all Kinds of
violations of traffic rules and regulations. The BLISTTDA shall enforce all traffic
laws and regulations in the city and municipalities, through its Traffic Operation
Center,

e) Enter into contract and own properties; receive funding, payments,
grants, contributions and donations; sue and be sued in order to carry out its duties
and functions as provided for in this Act; and

f) Perform other related functions required to achieve the objectives of
the BLISTTDA, including the undertaking of delivery of basic services to the local
government units, when deemed necessary subject to prior coordination with and
consent of the local government unit concerned.

SEC. 6. Functions of the BLISTT Council. -
a) The Council shall be the policy making body of the BLISTTDA.

b) It shall approve plans, programs and projects and issue rules and
regulations deemed necessary by the BLISTTDA to carry out the purposes of this
Act.

c) It may increase the rate of allowances and per diems of the members
of the Council to be effective during the term of the succeeding Council. It shall
fix the compensation of the officers and personnel of the BLISTTDA, and approve
the annual budget thereof for submission to the Department of Budget and
Management (DBM).

d) Recommend investment programming for its plans and programs, as
well as supervise the implementation of plans and programs which includes the
formulation and coordination of its related activities;

e) It shall set policies and standards, and promulgate rules and
regulations governing the delivery of basic services.

f) Endorse the annual as well as the supplemental budgets of the
BLISTTDA; and

g) Perform such other acts and assume such other functions as may be
necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.


SEC. 7. Functions of the Chairman. — The Chairman shall:

a) Appoint, subject to civil service laws, rules and regulations, all
subordinate officers and employees, who shall enjoy security of tenure and may be
removed only for cause in accordance with law. The Chairman is hereby
authorized to engage the services of experts or consultants either on full time or
part-time basis, as may be required in the performance of the Chairman's functions
and duties;

b) Execute the policies and measures approved by the Council and be
responsible for the efficient and effective day-to-day management of the operations
of the BLISTTDA;

c) Prepare the annual budget for the operations of the BLISTTDA for the
submission to the Council;

d) Subject to the guidelines and policies set by the Council, prepare the
staffing pattern and fix the number of subordinate officials and employees of the
BLISTTDA and exercise the power to discipline subordinate officials and
employees under the provisions of law;

e) Prepare an annual report on the accomplishments of the BLISTTDA
for submission to the Council and to the President of the Philippines; and

f) Perform such other duties as may be assigned to him by the President
or by the Council.

SEC. 8. Institutional Linkages of the BLISTTDA. — The BLISTTDA shall,
in carrying out its functions, consult, coordinate and work closely with the local
government units, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)
and other national government agencies mentioned in Section 4 hereof, and
accredited people’s organization, non-governmental organizations, and the private
sector operating in the component city and municipalities. The Chairmah or the
authorized representative from among the Council members, shall be ex officio
member of the boards of government corporations and committees of the
departments of government whose activities are relevant to the objectives and
responsibilities of the BLISTTDA.

The BLISTTDA shall formulate a master plan that serves as the framework
for the local development plans of the component LGUs. The BLISTTDA shall
submit its development plans and investments programs to the NEDA for
integration into the Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan and public
investment program.

The BLISTTDA shall, in coordination with the NEDA and the Department
of Finance, interface with foreign assistance agencies for purposes of obtaining
financing support, grants and donations in support of its programs and projects. _


SEC. 9. Sources of Funds and the Operating Budget of BLISTTDA. —

a) To carry out the purposes of this Act, the amount of One billion pesos
(Php 1,000,000,000) shall be appropriated for the initial operation of the
BLISTTDA. Thereafter, the annual expenditures including capital outlays of the
BLISTTDA shall be provided in the General Appropriations Act.

b) The BLISTTDA is likewise empowered to levy fines, and impose fees
and charges for various services rendered.

c) _ Five percent (5%) of the total annual gross revenue of the preceding
year, net of the internal revenue allotment, of each local government unit
mentioned in Section 2 hereof, shall accrue and become payable monthly to the
BLISTTDA by the city or each municipality. In case of failure to remit the said
fixed contribution, the Department of Budget and Management shall cause the
disbursement of the same to BLISTTDA chargeable against the Internal Revenue
Allotment of the city or municipality concerned, the provisions of Section 286 of
Republic Act No. 7160 to the contrary notwithstanding.

SEC. 10. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees executive orders, rules and
regulations, or parts or provisions thereof which are not affected by this Act shall
continue to remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 11. Separability Clause. — If any part or provision of this Act is held
unconstitutional or invalid, other parts or provisions thereof which are not affected
shall continue to remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 12. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,