Dagupan City Mayor Benjamin Lim may face administrative sanctions from the Department of Interior and Local Government for failing to perform his mandated duties as city mayor as provided in the Local Government Code.  

Mayor Lim has failed to submit his legislative agenda at the beginning of each year, the opening of the Sanggunian session as prescribed by the Code.

Item 1, Section 455, Chapter 3 of Local Government Unit prescribes that the city mayor “presents the program of government and propose policies and projects for the consideration of the sangguniang panglungsod at the opening of the regular session of the sangguniang panglungsod every calendar year.”

The occasion is usually referred to as the State of the City Address.

Similarly, President Arroyo delivered her State of the Nation Address before the opening of the session of Congress.

SP Secretary Jorge Estrada confirmed that Mayor Lim has not yet delivered his SOCA but pointed out that this is not mandatory on the mayor’s part.

Mayor Lim is presently in Japan for the celebration of the anniversary of the sisterhood ties between Iwata City and Dagupan City.

Without the defined legislative agenda from the executive department, the city government may be faced with legislative measures that are not consistent with its programs, hence the requirement.

If for one reason or another, the local city executive cannot deliver his or her address at the start of the year, he has till April of each year to comply with this requirement.

But in the case of Mayor Lim, he has not yet delivered his SOCA to date.

Gov. Victor Agbayani, Mayors Hernani Braganza of Alaminos, Julian Resuello of San Carlos City, Amadeo Perez Jr. of Urdaneta and other mayors have already addressed their respective councils. – AQL

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