Valle rejects oversight of flood control projects
PROPOSED ORDINANCE IS ‘ULTRA VIRES’
A proposed ordinance mandating full transparency, accountability, and regular monitoring of all flood mitigation projects in Dagupan City authored by lone opposition Councilor Librada Reyna is beyond the power of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP), according to the city’s legal chief.
This was disclosed by Councilor Jose Netu Tamayo, chair of the SP committee on Good Government and Public Accountability of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, following a committee hearing on September 11, which was attended by City Legal Officer Aurora Valle and City Engineer Josephine Corpuz.
Tamayo told The PUNCH that Valle said the proposal is “ultra vires,” citing that most of the projects that Reyna wanted covered are under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and funded by the national government.
Oversight for such projects is under the House of Representatives and the Senate which approved the General Appropriation Act, according to Valle.
Tamayo also took offense to an earlier radio interview where Reyna claimed that some officials of the city are contractors, if not relatives of contractors of flood control projects of DPWH, but when she was dared to name names, she could not mention any.
Reyna, who was present in the committee hearing, not as a member of any committee but as the author of the proposed ordinance, clarified that she only wants the committee on public works and infrastructure, headed by Councilor Karlos Reyna to require full transparency, accountability, and to regularly monitor flood control projects for the information of the people of Dagupan.
Reyna pointed to some projects listed in the “Sumbong sa Pangulo” website, but Valle said these and other projects nationwide are now being looked into by chambers of Congress.
Valle said scrutinizing DPWH projects in Dagupan City is not within the ambit of the power of the local government, adding that it can only coordinate or make suggestions, but not check or scrutinize, as Reyna had wanted.
She said coordination is now a must after President Ferdinand Marcos recently ordered the DPWH to coordinate all their projects with local government units where these will be built. (Leonardo Micua)
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