DOUBLE WHAMMY FROM MAJORITY BLOC

THE majority councilors again blocked the move to construct the P150 million Mother and Child Hospital project of the Department of Health, this time by rejecting the inclusion of the same resolution they voted down last November 23, in the December 19 agenda.

This after the majority members belabored their position clarifying  that they did not oppose the project when they refused to approve the resolution authorizing Mayor Belen Fernandez to sign a memorandum of agreement with the Department of Health-Center for Health Development for the construction of the hospital.

Councilor and Minority Floor Leader Michael Fernandez moved that Draft Resolution No. 36357, be calendared for second reading in the December 19 session with a promise to submit the documents requested by the majority, through the committee on health and sanitation.

Councilor Redford Erie-Mejia asked Fernandez what made him conclude that the majority rejected the proposed hospital, and Fernandez read Paragraph 11 of the Committee Report of the Committee on Health and Sanitation, which states: “This is to clarify that this committee report shall not be considered as a favorable committee report in accordance to Section 40 of the Internal Rules and Pro endures. Therefore, this proposed legislation will not be included for second reading in any succeeding session until further notice from the joint committee.”

It was Councilor Marilou Fernandez, chairman of the committee on health and sanitation, signed the committee report dated November 14, 2023 and submitted the same to the Sanggunian on November 23. She, too, clarified that she and all members of the majority are all for the establishment of the Maternity and Children’s Hospital “but the documents we have requested must be submitted”.

Minority leader Fernandez pointed out that the majority bloc submitted a “not favorable report” despite Mayor Belen Fernandez’s letter of urgency to the Sanggunian on October 27 endorsing the passage of Resolution No. 36357 because the deadline for the submission of such resolution to the DOH was November 15, 2023.

Erfe-Mejia cited the amended IRP of the SP that provides that no insertion is allowed after the majority submits and reads its written manifestation at the beginning of the session, insinuating that the motion of Fernandez to calendar Draft Resolution No. 36537 was not in order.  He also insisted that the amended rules do not give due course to letters of urgency of the executive.

Erfe-Mejia added: “We want the hospital to rise because that was a brainchild of former Mayor Benjamin Zaplan Lim which his son, former Mayor Brian Lim, wanted to continue.”

However, in the nominal voting that followed, Erfe-Mejia, Librada Macalanda, Alvin Coquia, Marilou Fernandez, Allie Fernandez,  Celia Lim and Irene Lim-Acosta voted against the inclusion of the draft resolution in the agenda. Michael Fernandez, Jeslito Seen, Dennis Canto, Marcelino Fernandez and Bradley Benavides voted for the inclusion.

In attendance were officials of the DOH regional Office, City Legal Officer Aurora Valle, City Health Officer Ophelia Rivera and OIC City Engineer Josephine Corpuz. (Leonardo Micua)

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