Mayor Brian “vetoes” a resolution

By Leonardo Micua

ONLY a meticulous eye can detect a faux pas in the August 4, 2020 agenda of the Dagupan Sangguniang Panlungsod where it was made to appear as if Mayor Brian Lim vetoed a simple resolution of that august body.

Part of the agenda of the SP read: “Letter  dated August 3,2020 of Honorable Marc Brian Lim, City Mayor, this city, regarding the Mayor’s veto and observation on the intent and provisions of SP Resolution No. 7703-2020 seeking to create an ad hoc committee to coordinate with the City Mayor’s office in relation to the body’s oversight functions in connection with the prevention  and control of COVID-19 pandemic x x x” .

We exercised due diligence and checked with City Secretary Ryan Ravanzo if what we read was correct. He said the word veto was not supposed to be there, blaming the secretariat for the faux pas when it inserted the word “veto” to what appears as purely the mayor’s reaction to Resolution No. 7703-2020.

If this isn’t corrected soon, Brian would be a laughing stock—if he is not already—since a resolution, being merely an expression of sentiment, to quote City Secretary Ravanzo, is not a subject of a veto. Only a budget ordinance or any ordinance for that matter, according to him, can be vetoed but not a resolution!

The Dagupan mayor’s letter to the SP which, indeed, sounded like a veto message, read in part: “It should be emphasized that the subject  resolution establishes an ad hoc committee in the Sangguniang Panlungsod, together with the City Mayor’s Office, to exclusively facilitate and utilize preparedness and ensure efficient government response to assess, monitor, contain, control and prevent any potential pandemic in the City, I submit that this is an encroachment on executive function and prerogative, and beyond the powers of the local legislature.”

Since the resolution is only an expression of a sentiment, the best that Brian could have done was to simply ignore it and would not give it the attention it did not deserve.

Correct me if I’m wrong. The only time and place where a resolution could be vetoed is in the United Nations, and is a right given only to five permanent members—the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France. Right?

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We are happy to hear that DepEd will be implementing a mix of modular and on-line instruction when classes for the 2020-2021 school year begins on August 24. 

DepEd Regional Director Tolentino Aquino told the Sangguniang Panlalawigan last August 3 that a survey conducted by DepEd among parents when they registered their children, 80 percent favored modular instruction over on-line instruction.  

But in areas where internet connection is possible, on-line instruction will be allowed provided the students have their own gadgets. 

He cited Dagupan City where internet connection is possible, on-line learning will be allowed, but there will still be areas in the city where modular instruction will be allowed.                  

DepEd Central office, he said, already downloaded funds for the printing of modules to be given to the learners but since the fund is not enough, local government’s help is being solicited.  

Definitely, there will be no face-to-face instruction because the threat of COVID-19 in Region 1 has not waned a bit, he said.

I heard teachers have been trained as broadcasters because another approved mode of instruction is via the radio and television.

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My eight-year-old granddaughter Mary Therese, who died in an accident on July 10, was finally laid to rest on Friday, August 14 in Forster, New South Wales, Australia.

She was given a warm, emotional send off by her classmates, teachers and principal of the Holy Name School as well as her neighborhood friends who knew her too well as a child full of talents and ambition.

She was a singer, dancer, a top school swimmer, martial artist and had a talent in arts and painting.   She dreamed someday to be a magazine illustrator and writer like her lolo.

Her Lola Rose and Lolo Gary as well as Lolo Romy and Lola Nida and their families motored all the way from Sydney to see her for the last time.

As COVID-19 grounded us and her cousins as well as other relatives, we just watched the memorial service in her honor at Forster Catholic Church through live streaming provided by Allan Pearse Funerals Pty. Ltd.

Her bereaved parents, Maryjane and Jose Dennis as well us, her grandparents, have already accepted that Mary Therese is now an angel of the Lord. Rest in peace, dear Apo.

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