SHADES OF E.O. 464

A MEMORANDUM of Mayor Benjamin dated August 6, 2010 directing all department heads and staff not to attend regular or special sessions and committee meetings of the Sangguniang Panlungsod without his clearance was roundly criticized by the city council.

Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez led in questioning the propriety of the memorandum after four city hall officials heads snubbed the invitation of the SP to appear during its August 9 session to clarify issues involving the city’s finances and implementation of programs in the city in aid of legislation.

City Social Welfare Officer Elsa Santillan was invited to shed light on the controversy regarding calamity relief goods with expired dates that remained stored in her office. Fernandez said the city council wants to determine what policies can be adopted for a more effective handling of relief goods through legislation.

City Agriculture Emma Molina was invited for an update on the list of illegal fish pen operations in the city and implementation of the Fisheries Code while Market Superintendent Carlito Vallo was invited to respond to questions on the market’s revenue earnings.

City Hall consultant Philip Soria, on the other hand, was invited to shed light on his public statement alleging that the city is bankrupt and that city hall employees could not be paid their salaries.

Fernandez has directed council secretary Jorge Estrada to again invite the same officials to the next session of the SP.

The vice mayor cited the request of the mayor for a supplemental budget of P7.2 million as one of the reasons for the invitations.

“We must hear the opinion of the treasurer, budget officer and accountant where the funds would be sourced before we can act on the request as we cannot rely on mere papers submitted to us by the executive department,” she said. “This is customary in all budget deliberations anywhere,” she pointed out.

Councilor Jesus Canto who likened the mayor’s memo to the gag order issued by former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to executive department preventing them from attending Senate hearings and investigations.

Arroyo eventually revoked her Executive Order No. 464 even before the Supreme Court could decide on the legality of the order.

EXECUTIVE-LEGISLATIVE MEETING

The propriety of the controversial remained unsettled even after the executive-legislative meeting held between the mayor and members of the SP on the night of August 9 at the Star Plaza Hotel.

Mayor Lim also stood his ground that department heads and staff may be invited only to attend SP sessions and meetings when there is a pending ordinance for consideration.

Though admitting that the department heads are under the city executive, the vice mayor pointed out that the SP should be pro-active as a legislative body and not act reactive, to issues regarding implementation of programs in the city.

Canto pointed out during the KBP Forum on Thursday, which was also attended by Fernandez, that the national government operates differently from the local governments and the mayor does not enjoy the same powers of the president.

He warned that the mayor’s memorandum encroaches upon the power of the legislative body to make laws.

“When we craft an ordinance, we should have all the data and these data would be from the department heads,” he said.–LM

Back to Homepage

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments