VIOLATION OF LGC CONTINUES

THE minority in the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) was again denied a chance to speak out in its regular session when the opposition that comprised the majority moved for the early adjournment of the session after submitting its written manifestation.

Councilor Redford Erfe-Mejia of the majority bloc, moved for the adjournment in his privilege motion right after reading his group’s written manifestation even before the minutes of the January 30 session could be corrected and approved.

Councilor and Minority Floor Leader Michael Fernandez protested against the motion because of its clear intent which was to prevent the SP from discussing and reacting to issues on the 2024 annual budget, and preventing councilors to correct erroneous entries in the minutes.

He said the majority bloc obviously did not want the minority to have a chance to react and speak out on the submitted written manifestation and to discuss the committee report on its hearings on the 2024 annual investment program and the 2024 annual city budget submitted by the committee on finance budget and appropriations chaired by Erfe-Mejia.

Fernandez again cited Section 623 of the Local Government Code that provides that if the annual budget is not passed by the end of the preceding year (2023), the sanggunian shall continue its session and no other matter can be discussed by it except the annual budget.

Specifically, Fernandez said Section 623 used the word “session” and not committee hearings. He said the minority wants to continue to discuss the proposed budget but the majority, he said, wanted mere submission of manifestations of committee hearings to comply with Section 623, preventing debates to take place.

The seven members of the opposition have since manifested that they have no plans to comply with two letters of Mayor Belen Fernandez calling for holding special sessions daily and seeking to acknowledge her certification to the urgency of passing the 2024 annual investment program and the 2024 annual city budget.

Even when majority floor leader, Councilor Librada Reyna-Macalanda was asked that the session should continue after the submission of the manifestation, Erfe-Mejia interjected and reminded presiding officer Vice Mayor Bryan Kua of his pending motion to adjourn which was seconded.

The subsequent voting on the motion decided the early adjournment. After the adjournment, the members of the majority reportedly proceeded with the continuation of its closed-door committee hearings on the annual investment program and the annual budget with department heads. (Leonardo Micua)

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