The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) has expressed its “conditional support” to the proposed legislation by Councilor Alvin Dizon that would require contractors to employ city residents in their construction sites.
Businessmen are asking the city to first come up with “safeguards” that would include requiring skilled workers to undergo trade testing or secure a certification from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) while the semi-skilled and the unskilled workers should undergo physical examination prior to their employment.
They are also asking barangay officials to come up with a master list of their skilled and unskilled workers.
Anna Marie Cabigas, CCCI external affairs division head, said the chamber is also proposing the grant of incentives to encourage contractors to comply with the ordinance.
“The chamber would be most willing to take part in the process of lowering the unemployment rate and boosting the construction industry in Cebu City,” said Cabigas in a public hearing which the city council called yesterday morning.
Dizon’s proposed ordinance would require contractors to allow city residents to fill at least 30 percent of their required work force requirement.
Being the lone speaker during the public hearing, Cabigas read the prepared message by CCCI President Ma. Teresa Chan and Architect Benjamin Avila, head of the chamber’s infrastructure and housing committee, who were both in Manila yesterday to attend a business conference.
Dizon’s ordinance is asking contractors to give 20 percent of their workforce requirement to unskilled or semi-skilled workers who are residents of barangays where their ongoing projects are located and another 10 percent for skilled workers.
Violators would be meted with non-renewal of business permits.
Dizon said the city government should take advantage of the construction boom that is predicted to continue until year 2020 by giving employment opportunities to its residents.
Employing city residents is also a means for contractors to share their gains to the city.
“This is an important strategy to poverty reduction,” he said.
Cabigas said CCCI “commends” Dizon’s proposal because this is seen to further strengthen Cebu’s construction industry.