DESPITE OPPOSITION WALKOUT

DAGUPAN’S Sangguniang Panlungsod passed 14 ordinances and 10 resolutions during a special session that ran for less than five hours on December 12, a record accomplishment for the city’s lawmaking body, despite another walkout by four opposition councilors.

Among the measures passed were ordinances: 1. Establishing the first Dagupan City Technical and Vocational School, 2.  Authorizing the closure of Galvan and Zamora Streets for the purpose of holding a baratillo and food strip during next year’s Bangus Festival, and requiring the mandatory wearing of reflectorized vests by riders of motorcycles, tricycles, bicycles, e-bikes, scooters and similar two or three-wheeled vehicles when traveling along the highways , and  supplemental budgets 1. For the purchase of one ultra sound machine requested by the City Health Office. 2. Construction of an evacuation center in the island barangay of Pugaro;; and the ordinance.

The resolution authorizing Mayor Belen Fernandez to sign for and in behalf of the city an agreement with the Department of Health-Center for Health Development for the latter’s donation of one emergency ambulance to be assigned to the Super Family Health Center in Bolosan, was one of the 10. Adopted.

Councilor Fernandez said most of the approved ordinances and resolutions had long been pending and unacted upon by the old majority.

The four remaining opposition councilors again manifested their refusal to participate in a session that they called ultra vires and illegal ab initio .

The walkout was led by Councilor Celia Lim, followed by Librada Reyna-Macalanda, Alvin Coquia, and Marilou Fernandez.

Those who remained in the session hall, Councilors Michael Fernandez, Jeslito Seen, Dennis Canto, Marcelino Fernandez and Bradley Benavidez, took turns in lambasting the opposition councilors for abdicating their duties to serve the people of Dagupan.

Canto said the opposition councilors are doing a disservice to the city and its people by turning their back on their sworn duties as local legislators and could be held liable under the law.

Councilor Michael Fernandez also again brushed aside the opposition’s claim that the adoption of new internal rules and regulations was illegal and that the majority of five cannot constitute a quorum. He cited related rulings in their favor from various authorities, including City Secretary Ryan Ravanzo and the Department of the Interior and Local Government. (Leonardo Micua) 

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