Three Business Organization Unite | Surigao Chamber of Commerce and Industry,Inc.

The Surigao Boulevard has long been identified for progressive development and regulation. Even before all the illegal stalls and squatters littered the area, concerned members of the business community came up with a plan to create a council to control the activities at the boulevard. Soon after, in May 2006 during a meeting with city officials, members of the Surigao Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. presented a concept paper. Much of the ideas came from the organizational basis of the Metro Manila Development Authority. The following text forms part of that plan.

The Surigao Boulevard shall be an esplanade that stretches 1,800 meters along the seawall from the wharf’s lighthouse to Diez St. It shall serve as the focal display of what Surigao has to offer in competitiveness in the business and tourism industries. It shall be home to cozy restaurants, cafes, hotels, museums, and other tourist related businesses. Periodically it shall become the site of cultural and tourism events for of the City.

The goals are to maintain and promote cost effective and orderly development and
development patterns throughout the Surigao Boulevard, to maintain and enhance the quality of life within the area, and to prevent and eliminate blight and resist deterioration of this area. The responsibility for implementation of these objectives ultimately depends on cohesive efforts by and between a variety of entities including, but not limited to: the public, existing owners and operators of businesses located in the area, prospective investors and developers, and the City Council.

The Surigao Boulevard Development Authority shall be created through a local city resolution adopted by all councilors and consequently approved by the Mayor. It shall perform planning, monitoring and coordinative functions, and in the process exercise regulatory and supervisory authority over the delivery of services within the Surigao Boulevard area without diminution of the autonomy of the local government units concerning purely local matters.

A Chairman, who is appointed by the City Mayor, heads the SBDA. The Chairman shall:

(a) Execute the policies and measures approved by the SBDA and be responsible for the efficient and effective day-to-day management of the operations of the SBDA;

(b) Engage the services of experts/consultants either on full time or part-time basis, as may be required in the performance of his functions and duties as may be determined by Council;

(d) Submit for consideration of the Council such other duties and measures as he may deemed necessary to carry out the purposes of the SBDA;

(e) Prepare an annual report on the accomplishments of the SBDA at the close of each calendar year for submission to the Council and to the City Mayor; and

(g) Perform such other duties as may be assigned to him by the City Mayor or by the Council.

Representative from the City Tourism Office
Representative from the City Health Office/Health Department
Representative from the City Treasurer’s Office
Representative from the Fire Department
Representative from the Engineering Department
Representative from the Police Department
Representative from the City Traffic Office
Representative from the Assessment Department
Representative from Barangay Taft
Representative from the Surigao Chamber of Commerce and Industry
(5) Representatives from the owners and operators of businesses operating in the boulevard

Costs incurred to stage such meetings shall be sourced from the SBDA funding.

All registered business and lot owners and operators shall be invited to join the meetings as audience but will not have voting rights during key decision processes.

For the initial operation of the SBDA a fund appropriation of One Hundred Thousand (P100,000.00) is required. This may be obtained through the City government or through a third-party grant. Future sources of revenue include contribution from participating businesses, fines, fees and charges.

The services include: (1) Development planning: (2) Transportation and traffic management: (3) Solid waste disposal and management: (4) Sewerage management: (5) Urban renewal, zoning, land use planning and shelter services; and (6) Health sanitation, urban protection and pollution control and public safety.

Development Planning - which includes the preparation of medium and long term development plans; the development evaluation and packaging of projects; investment programming and coordination as well as the monitoring of plans, program, project implementation.

Transport and Traffic Management – which includes the formulation, coordination and monitoring of policies, standards, programs and projects to rationalize the existing transport operations, infrastructure requirements, the use of thoroughfares; and promotion of safe and convenient movement of persons, goods and regulate road users; administration and implementation of all traffic enforcement operations, traffic engineering services and traffic education programs.

Solid Waste Disposal and Management - which includes formulation and implementation of policies, standards, programs and projects for proper and sanitation waste disposal intended to reduce, reuse, and recycle solid waste.

Sewerage management - which includes the formulation and implementation of policies, standards, rules and regulations, programs and projects for an integrated drainage and sewerage system.

Urban Renewal, Zoning and Land Use Planning and Shelter Services – which includes the formulation, adoption and implementation of policies, standards, rules and regulations, programs and projects to rationalize and optimize urban land use and provide direction to urban growth and expansion, the rehabilitation and development of slum and blighted areas, and the provision of necessary social services.

Health and Sanitation, Urban Protection and Pollution Control – which includes the formulation and implementation of policies, rules and regulations, standards, programs and projects for the promotion and safeguarding of the health and sanitation of the area and for the enhancement of ecological balance and the prevention, control and abatement of environmental pollution.

Public Safety – which includes the formulation and implementation of programs and policies and procedures to achieve public safety, especially the preparedness for preventive or rescue operations during times of calamities and disasters such as conflagrations, earthquake, flood and tidal waves; and coordination and mobilization of resources and the implementation for rehabilitation and relief operations in coordination with national agencies concerned.