UNPARLIAMENTARY CONDUCT

COUNCILORS of Dagupan City figured in a shouting match and nearly came into blows during a one-minute recess declared by Vice Mayor and presiding officer Bryan Kua to allow for councilors to cool down following a shouting match about the implementation of the Dagupan City Scholarship Program l during the regular session of the Sangguniang Panlungsod last Tuesday.

The recess was called after Councilor Redford Erfe-Mejia initially taunted members of the minority, particularly Councilor and Minority Leader Michael Fernandez to show real concern for the education of the youth by adopting and sponsoring the college education of two applicant scholars, (one to be adopted by Fernandez while the other by Erfe-Mejia)  brought to the session hall.

When Fernandez started to deliver his response, citing the urgency of the passage of the Supplementary Budget that included funds for the scholarship program that would address Erfe-Mejia’s issues, the latter kept disrupting and taunting Fernandez. The unparliamentary conduct of Erfe-Mejia prompted Vice Mayor Kua to bang the gavel twice and called for order, but it did not stop Erfe-Mejia’s loud taunting. The one minute recess allowed Erfe-Mejia to continue his tirade and grandstanding further deriding members of the minority.

Erfe-Mejia shouted “Magaling ka lang sa salita, katulad ng amo mo”, followed by “Hanggang salita lang kayo.” Councilor Dennis Canto shouted back “Binabastos mo na kami nyan”.

Cooler heads intervened at which time Councilor Alvin Coquia patted the back of Canto while Councilor Alfie Fernandez stood by to help prevent physical contacts. Councilor Celia Lim approached Erfe-Mejia and admonished him, “Tama na yan”.

The unparliamentary conduct in the SP were witnessed by department heads including City Schools Superintendent Aguedo Fernandez and barangay captains.

Ironically, while Erfe-Mejia lamented the failure of present and new scholars to receive any financial assistance from the city though their final examination is now nearing, Minority Leader Fernandez pointed to the need for the immediate passage of the Supplemental Budget No. 1 “an ordinance approving the Proposed Supplemental Budget No. 1 appropriating P258, 224, 6949. 74” for various programs and projects, including P100 million for additional scholarship outlay, certified urgent by Mayor Belen Fernandez.

The Belen Fernandez administration earlier bewailed the fully expended budget for scholarship under the Lim administration.

The discussion on the  scholarship program started during the privilege time in Tuesday’s regular session, when City Schools Superintendent Aguedo Fernandez appealed to the SP for more funds for the repair of classrooms and facilities to fully support face-to-face classes in the city.

The majority, however, finally decided to defer action on the draft ordinance that was certified as urgent and was routinely referred to the committee on appropriations and finance headed by Erfe-Mejia for committee hearing.

But details of the planned committee hearing were not provided by Erfe-Mejia. (Leonardo Micua)

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