IN THE NAME OF POLITICS

THE opposition comprising the majority bloc of the Dagupan Sanggunian Panlungsod again turned back on its word indicated in last week’s regular session that it would support the implementation of the P150-million Mother and Child Hospital (MCH) when it  resisted anew to pass the resolution granting City Mayor Belen Fernandez to sign an agreement with the Department of Health (DOH).

The new move to further delay the implementation of the MCH became evident when Councilor Celia Lim and her colleagues  opposed the  motion of Councilor and Minority Floor Leader Michael Fernandez seeking   the  suspension  of the rules of the SP to  allow DOH and Dagupan City Health officials to speak and address questions about proposed MCH.

“It is the least that we can do as far as inter- government relationship is concerned”, Minority Leader Fernandez said when he moved for the suspension of the rules to allow DOH and CHO officials to speak during the SP session but which was objected to by the majority bloc, resulting in nominal voting—seven against and only five in favor, defeating the measure.

Her reason: unresolved political aspects of the project.

Lim stressed that MCH was a brainchild of her late husband, former Mayor Benjamin Lim and its P150 million funding was processed during the administration of her son, former Mayor Brian Lim, and insinuated that not a project accomplished by the Belen Fernandez administration.

The DOH and CHO officials led by Dr. Kai Sibayan and Dr. Julita de Venecia, respectively were in the session hall on the invitation of Councilor Marilou Fernandez, chair of the Committee on Health, after they joined her in another ocular inspection of the proposed site of the MCH along Jose de Venecia Expressway in Barangay Pantal in the morning of April 2.

Councilor Marilou Fernandez then proposed the holding of another closed door committee hearing to further hear the DOH and CHO officials instead of allowing her guests to speak.

Lim also cited the ethical aspect or absence of delicadeza, of the donation of the land on which the MCH will stand, since the property was donated by Mayor Belen Fernandez’s brother and raised the issue about the legality  of the donation which, she said, must first be looked into by the SP committee on laws and rules and by other legal experts of Dagupan City.

In response, Minority leader Fernandez said the holding  of another committee hearing by the opposition will further delay the implementation of the MCH citing the extensive committee hearings that already discussed aspects of the donation and the SP executive session with DOH Regional Director Paula Paz Sydiongco and DOH Legal Counsel Jordan Falcis.

The minority leader expressed his frustration as he cited the executive meeting with the DOH regional director last week that ended cordially with an expected consensus to approve  the resolution authorizing  Mayor Fernandez to sign an agreement with  the DOH for the implementation of the MCH.

A committee hearing was still held after the regular session was adjourned. (Leonardo Micua)

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