BAGUIO CITY – Inalis na ng Baguio City government ang austerity measures na ipinatupad noong kasagsagan ng Middle East fuel crisis, kaya maaari nang ipagpatuloy ang mga naudlot na programa, proyekto, at regular government services.
Nilagdaan ni Mayor Benjamin Magalong noong September 1 ang Executive Order No. 124, series of 2026, na nagbabasura sa Executive Order No. 64 na nagpatupad ng cost-cutting measures noong March.
“The lifting will allow the city to address pending issues and resume activities and projects in accordance with existing laws, rules, regulations, and approved plans while continuing to observe prudent and responsible use of public funds and resources,” sabi ni Acting Mayor Faustino Olowan.
Sa ilalim ng dating austerity measures, nilimitahan ang overtime requests, hiring ng personnel, at monetization ng leave credits maliban sa highly meritorious cases.
Ipinagpaliban din ang pagbili ng government vehicles maliban sa kritikal para sa health, uniformed services, at disaster response. Nilimitahan din ang foreign at official travel, government-funded trainings at seminars, privately organized conferences, educational tours, field trips, at cultural at social celebrations kabilang ang barangay fiestas.
Ipinagbawal din noon ang construction ng bagong government buildings at facilities at capital outlays na hindi pa handang ipatupad, pati ang ilang honoraria.
Nagpatupad din ang lungsod ng mas mahigpit na paggamit ng office supplies at target na 20-percent reduction sa electricity, water, internet, elevator, at iba pang utilities. Maaaring ipagpaliban sa mga susunod na taon ang projects na may problema o malaking cost overruns.
Nauna nang binawi ang four-day workweek na ipinatupad din bilang bahagi ng austerity measures noong March.
“The revocation takes effect immediately and is intended to enable the local government to advance the delivery of basic services and proceed with priority development projects that were affected during the implementation of the austerity measures,” sabi ni Olowan.
Ayon sa acting mayor, ginawa ang desisyon matapos suriin ang kasalukuyang kondisyon at operational requirements ng lungsod, kabilang ang pangangailangang maibalik sa regular ang pagpapatupad ng programs at services. /Bistado