2009 O - 37 - INSTITUTING OLONGAPO PRODUCT CENTER IN THE CITY, CREATING A POLICY MAKING BODY, ESTABLISHING A PROGRAM FOR THE SELECTION, QUALITY

EXCERPTS FROM THE MINUTES OF THE REGULAR SESSION OF THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD OF OLONGAPO, HELD ON NOVEMBER 24, 2009 AT THE CITY HALL.

PRESENT:

Hon. Cynthia G. Cajudo - - - City Vice-Mayor & Presiding Officer

Hon. Gina Gulanes-Perez - - - City Councilor

Hon. John Carlos G. delos Reyes- - “ “

Hon. Rodel S. Cerezo- - - “ “

Hon. Sarah Lugerna Lipumano-Garcia - - “ “

Hon. Edwin J. Piano- - “ “

Hon. Angelito W. Baloy - - - “ “

Hon. Aquilino Y. Cortez, Jr. - “ “

Hon. Anselmo A. Aquino- - - “ “

Hon. Elena C. Dabu- - - - “ “

Hon. Jonathan G. Manalo- - “ “.

Hon. Cheenee F. Hoya- - - SK Federation President

ABSENT:

None.

WHEREAS, Article XII Section 12 of the Philippine Constitution provides that “The state shall promote the preferential use of Filipino labor, domestic materials and locally produced goods and adopt measures that help make them competitive”;

WHEREAS, the City of Olongapo and Subic Freeport have been frequented by tourists all around the country and the world as they boast of many wonderful natural and man-made destination sites;

WHEREAS, with the aforesaid booming local tourism industry comes the comprehensible reason of enhancing the present indigenous products and making them excellent in all angles;

NOW, THEREFORE, on motion of City Councilor Gina Gulanes-Perez, with the unanimous accord of the Members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod present,

RESOLVED, AS IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, by the Sangguniang Panlungsod in session assembled, to enact the following ordinance:

ORDINANCE NO. 37

(Series of 2009)

AN ORDINANCE INSTITUTING THE OLONGAPO PRODUCT CENTER IN THE CITY, CREATING A POLICY MAKING BODY, ESTABLISHING A PROGRAM FOR THE SELECTION, QUALITY, PRESERVATION, PACKAGING AND PROMOTION OF AUTHENTIC LOCAL PRODUCTS

BE IT ORDAINED, BY THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD IN SESSION ASSEMBLED, THAT:

SECTION 1. Title. This Ordinance shall be known as Gawang Gapo Product Center Ordinance.

SECTION 2. Objective. This program shall endeavour to boost economic activities among legitimate Olongapeňos, generate an opportunity for local products to emerge in the region as well as in the country, support the small enterprises likewise aspire for the advancement of the tourism industry by focusing on the superiority of products, souvenirs and goods starting from selection, preservation, packaging and promotion .

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms.

a. Accreditation – the process by which a local product meets the City’s standards and requirements through selection, quality, preservation and packaging.

b. Authentic – locally produced products where majority of the ingredients must be grown and/or found surrounding and within the territorial jurisdiction of the City.

c. Center – the venue of all programs related to Gawang Gapo products. This Center will strengthen livelihood programs specifically focusing on the skills of Olongapeños in creating authentic local products.

d. Board – a policy-making body which shall provide general guidelines and directives to the Livelihood Cooperative and Development Office as the technical working group of this program.

e. Gawang Gapo – any local product manufactured out of creativity of an Olongapeño declared through Accreditation justifying its authenticity.

f. Product Selection – the process by which a local product shall be carefully chosen taking note of potentiality, authenticity and excellence in both its external and internal qualities.

g. Product Quality – the process by which a local product shall be assessed on all its physical characteristics like taste, odor, color and others. A high degree of excellence shall be established subsequently to ensure market profitability.

h. Product Preservation – the process by which a product will be conserved on a longer duration of time on market and grocery shelves.

i. Product Packaging – the process by which a local product shall be wrapped adopting innovative and creative techniques while ensuring its cleanliness and proper preservation from packaging up to the market purchase.

j. Product Promotion – the process by which a local product shall be efficiently launched and advertised in the market.

SECTION 4. Creation of a Gawang Gapo Board.

A policy-making body known as “Gawang Gapo Board” shall be created which is empowered to formulate policies, plans and programs of the Gawang Gapo Product Center. The Local Chief Executive, as the Chairman of the Board, shall subsequently appoint the members of the Board through an Executive Order.

SECTION 5. Functions of the Board. The Board shall aim at accomplishing the following functions:

a. Design the over-all plans and programs of the Gawang Gapo Product Center.

b. Formulate general guidelines for the selection, accreditation, preservation, packaging and promotion of local quality products upon the recommendation of the technical working group.

c. Evaluate and study proposals in relation to the Gawang Gapo products and approve the effective ones after identifying the timeliness of its necessity.

d. Perform other related functions as identified by the Chairman of the Board.

SECTION 6. Gawang Gapo Product Center. A place where transactions of business and activities for all Gawang Gapo Products shall take place. From the present organizational structure of the City, the City Livelihood and Cooperative Development Office (CLCDO) as mandated under City Ordinance Number 50 Series of 2005 shall serve as the Technical Working Group (TWG) of the Gawang Gapo Center. The CLCDO shall also serve as the lead agency in the implementation of the policies, plans and programs promulgated by the Board and shall oversee the operation and supervision of the Center.

SECTION 7. Technical Working Group. All employees under the City Livelihood and Cooperative Development Office shall be part of the Group. Aside from its regular functions, the following functions shall be enforced:

a. Implement the over all plans and programs designed by the Gawang Gapo Board.

b. Execute the duly approved guidelines on product accreditation, selection, preservation, packaging and promotion of local products in close coordination with the DTI.

c. Propose to the Board other relevant measures which will be necessary in the effective implementation of this program.

SECTION 8. Product Accreditation. Local Products shall undergo an evaluation following the standards and requirements set forth by the City Government through the Gawang Gapo Product Center. Accreditation is the over-all assessment of the product after selection process which includes quality, preservation and packaging. Aside from the Mayor’s Permit, registration documents with the appropriate agencies (like DTI, DOLE, or CDA, etc) must be available.

SECTION 9. Product Selection. All existing Olongapo products shall be screened by the Gawang Gapo Center and recommend the same to the board for its approval.

SECTION 10. Product Quality and Preservation. In close coordination with the Department of Trade and Industry, the Center shall establish standards in assuring quality and preservation of the chosen local products. The Gawang Gapo Product manufacturers shall eventually apply to the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) for the certification of their products’ cleanliness and product value, if applicable.

SECTION 11. Product Packaging. The Center shall spearhead the packaging of the certified authentic Olongapo products which shall undergo research to enhance its physical characteristics like color, shape, container and others in coordination with Product Development and Design Center of the Philippines (PDDCP) of DTI and Packaging Research and Development Center (PRDC) of DOST. All products shall contain the Gawang Gapo seal, duly registered at the Intellectual Property Office. The label should contain the ingredients, expiry date, name and address of the company and website, should there be any.

SECTION 12. Product Promotion. All Gawang Gapo Products shall be strategically placed in the local market. All grocery outlets and supermarkets in Olongapo City shall be enjoined and/or encouraged to assign an area for the Gawang Gapo Products and hotels, restaurants and other tourism-related establishments shall be encouraged to carry out the same. Pasalubong Centers shall be established in all public markets, transportation terminals and other appropriate locations as maybe determined by the Center. Parallel promotion programs shall be conducted in other provinces or regions.

Aside from participating in different trade fairs, the Center shall organize an Annual Gawang Gapo Trade Fair for further product exposure. Moreover, all local media organizations shall assist in the promotion of Gawang Gapo Products through public service announcements. Once the Gawang Gapo Products have proven its success in the local market, the Center shall execute plans to penetrate other provinces or regions.

SECTION 13. Roles of Accredited Gawang Gapo Product Enterpreneurs. All local products that passed the established standards and in due course marked with the Gawang Gapo Seal, shall perform the following roles:

a. Persevere on strictly following the standards of local quality products.

b. Continuously strive for product improvement and excellence.

c. Provide employment to Olongapeños through this livelihood program.

d. Participate in all activities spearheaded and joined by the Center.

e. Renew product accreditation every year.

SECTION 14. Incentives of Accredited Gawang Gapo Product Enterpreneurs. All accredited local product enterpreneurs shall be provided with tax incentives, financial assistance, promotion and other benefits duly approved by the Board.

SECTION 15. Budgetary Requirement. For the effective implementation of this Ordinance, any budget appropriation required in connection with the plans and programs of the said Center shall be subsequently determined by the Chairman of the Board upon availability of resources.

SECTION 16. Miscellaneous Provisions. Copies of this Ordinance shall be provided to the seventeen Barangays, Non-Government Organizations, Metro Olongapo Chamber of Commerce, Olongapo City Tourism Council, SMED Council, Department of Trade and Industry, local bus terminals and the local media for information and appropriate action.

APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY, November 24, 2009.

CYNTHIA G. CAJUDO

City Vice-Mayor & Presiding Officer

GINA GULANES-PEREZ JOHN CARLOS G. DELOS REYES

City Councilor City Councilor

RODEL S. CEREZO SARAH LUGERNA LIPUMANO-GARCIA

City Councilor City Councilor

EDWIN J. PIANO ANGELITO W. BALOY

City Councilor City Councilor

AQUILINO Y. CORTEZ, JR. ANSELMO A. AQUINO

City Councilor City Councilor

ELENA C. DABU JONATHAN G. MANALO

City Councilor City Councilor

CHEENEE F. HOYA

SK Federation President

ATTEST:

ELFLIDA S. SALMON

Council Secretary

APPROVED BY HIS HONOR, THE CITY MAYOR ON _____________________.

JAMES GORDON, JR.

City Mayor

ATTEST:

DELFIN A. JUICO, JR.

Secretary to the City Mayor