Upgraded character city programs and activities pushed
The Baguio character council is coming up with activities to upgrade the city’s status as a character city, with full support from Mayor Benjamin Magalong and the city council.
This was discussed by members of the Baguio Character Council during the yearend assessment and planning session last December 29.
The character program of the city aims to instill positive values in all aspects of human endeavors, with activities going on for several years now.
However, due to the global Covid-19 pandemic, activities have been on hold for the past year except the Easter sunrise ceremony. For this year, other activities such as the Bible Quiz bee during the Bible week celebration by the end of January, character on the air radio program and quarterly meetings may push through depending on the health situation in the city.
In his message during the planning session, council chair on Ethics, Government Affairs and Personnel (EGAP) Isabelo Cosalan, Jr. reiterated the need to search and involve all interested sectors. “The (character) program is not just for a chosen few but a participatory endeavor, thus, let us be inclusive,” Cosalan said.
“We need to find ways, through a network between and among the community, to be effective implementers of the character program,” he added. All sectors, including the barangays, the academic and business community shall be invited for their inputs to the program, Cosalan added.
On the move to institutionalize the character program, workshops for implementers and later, a public hearing may be conducted.
There is also a move to produce a three-fold material outlining the character city program and its dissemination through social media, spearheaded by the office of Councilor Levi Orcales. The contents of the proposed material shall be reviewed by the Baguio Character Council before final printing and distribution.
Councilor Phillian Weygan-Alan, whose father Councilor Galo Weygan trailblazer the character city endeavor gave her blessings to the activities including the assignment of the 52-week character on the air program.
Local groups such as persons with disabilities, senior citizens, taxi drivers, environmentalists, mothers, women, students; government and non-government, offices, agencies such as the Department of Education, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Boy and Girl scouts, Persons with Disabilities, individuals and all knowledgeable entities are asked to speak on an identified character on air. Legislative, the Judiciary, Peace and order officials, the Baguio Jail Management and Penology and Persons Deprived of Liberty are also involved in the program.
The character program is participated in by the religious sector including all church groups, some through the Baguio City Evangelical Council (BCEC), it was emphasized during the assessment and planning session. The Muslim community has also been actively participating in the values program, with spiritual teaching and learnings from the Koran – Julie G. Fianza
