ANOTHER ‘NO -SHOW’ BY OPPOSITION COUNCILORS

ALL seven members of the majority in the Dagupan Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) were again a no-show during the city council’s May 21, 2024 regular session, and promptingvv Vice Mayor and SP Presiding  Officer Bryan Kua to adjourn the session after three roll calls.

Only five members of the minority bloc, including Vice Mayor Bryan Kua, SP presiding officer, answered the roll call three times, at a five minute-interval by City Secretary Ryan Ravanzo.

Present inside the session hall aside from Kua, were Councilors Michael Fernandez, Jeslito Seen and Bradley Benavides. Councilors Dennis Canto and Marcelino Fernandez answered the roll via Zoom platform.

Ravanzo said Councilor Marilou Fernandez’s vacation leave from May 15 to 31, 2024 was approved while Councilor Celia Lim was on sick leave evidenced by photo copy of her medical certificate, while Councilor Irene Lim-Acosta was on privileged leave for personal matter.

No explanation was received by the secretariat from Councilor Librada Reyna-Macalanda, Alfie Fernandez, Alvin Coquia and Redford Erfe-Mejia for their absence.

Frustrated by another ‘no-show’ by the majority councilors, Minority Leader Fernandez noted that a ‘no show’ has become predictable, with no member of the majority councilors is present when others are absent whether on authorized leaves or not, to prevent discussions and voting on pending issues in their absence as the majority.

Fernandez said attendance of the majority councilors on the May 21 regular session resulted in the failure of SP to officially acknowledge receipt of proposed Supplemental Budget No. 2-2024 submitted by Mayor Belen Fernandez, and to  refer it to the proper committee for hearings.

Like  the majority members’ ‘no -show’ in the past that held back action on critical issues, he said the delay in the official   acknowledgement resulted in added delay  to keep the issue pending only to be disapproved by the committees.

Supplemental Budget No. 2-2024 was proposed by the Local Development Council that allocated P557 million for various programs, projects and services, using the unappropriated  balance from Supplement Budget No. 1-2024, which only allocated P43 million for the benefits of employees, as well as aid to the Sangguniang Kabataan in 31 barangays.

Fernandez said attached to Supplemental Budget No. 2-2024 is a certificate of urgency signed by Mayor Fernandez. (Leonardo Micua)

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