LiFe COUNCILORS REVERSE THEMSELVES

A state of confusion reigns at the Dagupan Sangguniang Panlungsod.

Two weeks ago, the majority (composed of LiFe councilors) nixed the passage of the proposed ordinance submitted by the minority and certified by the office of the city mayor as urgent but the majority eventually reconsidered their position after the fact and decided to hold a public hearing contrary to their manifested vote.

The proposed ordinance, was a measure “Prescribing the schedule of fees on: Operation of fishing boats and operation of motorized bancas and boats for passenger, merchandise, cargo ferrying and other  purposes thereby amending for this purpose Section 56 of Ordinance No. 1768-2003, otherwise known as the Dagupan City Coastal Fisheries Resource Management of 2003.”

Then last Wednesday, a joint committee hearing was called on the rejected proposed ordinance by the SP’s committees on fisheries chaired by Councilor Alvin Coquia; laws and ordinances chaired by Councilor Alfie Fernandez; and transportation and public utilities chaired by Councilor Redford Erfe-Mejia.

But a check with the SP secretariat by The PUNCH revealed that after the proposed ordinance  was thumbed down by the majority in the previous session, Councilors Leader Librada Macalanda, Councilors Redford Erfe-Mejia, Alvin Coquia, Marilou Fernandez, Alfie Fernandez Celia Lim and Irene Lim-Acosta reconsidered their position  and decided to hold a public hearing on the proposed ordinance.

In attendance during the hearing were P/Major Benny Torre, station chief of the PNP Maritime Group, some barangay officials and fishermen’s associations of Barangays Pugaro, Salapingao, Bonuan Gueset, Bonuan Boquig and Bonuan Binloc.

Absent members of the minority were Councilors Michael Fernandez, Jeslito Seen, Dennis Canto, Marcelino Fernandez, Joshua Bugayong, all of whom Councilor Coquia took to task for their absence as sponsors of the rejected ordinance.

In an interview, Councilor Seen told The PUNCH that their absence in the committee hearing was premised on the minority’s submitted position that a proposed ordinance certified as urgent by the mayor as urgent does not need a public hearing to pass it. “Besides,” he said, “when the majority members reconsidered their position, they did not withdraw their first objection to the measure and merely acquired the proposed ordinance  unilaterally as sponsors without even the courtesy of informing the original author.”

“They rejected it, reconsidered their position and then they called a public hearing on it?” Seen said in exasperation.

He also cited DILG legal opinion no. 52 on a query of Mayor Cecilia Carreon of Pinan, Zamboanga as added explanation for their absence: “Any legislative matter duly certified by the Local Executive as urgent, whether or not it is included in the calendar of business, may be presented and considered by the same body at the same meeting without the need of suspending the rules”.

“Lastly, if the action of the sanggunian on the matters certified as urgent by the local chief executive is intentional and without  valid and justifiable grounds, thereby showing no consideration on the priorities of the administration,  the members thereof are  considered to have slumbered in their primordial duty, thus can be held as administratively liable.”

He said there was even no point in attending that committee hearing, because under the approved internal rules and procedures promulgated by the majority members, minority members can only attend as observers, with no voting rights nor will they be given a chance to speak.

None of the invited department heads, including Randy Ubando, OIC-city treasurer,  appeared at the committee hearing.

City Secretary Ryan Ravanzo said Patrick Dizon, OIC of the city agriculture office, was attending  a seminar in Lingayen where he was invited as resource speaker. However,  Dizon sent a letter to the SP reiterating that the proposed amendment to an ordinance was a response of the city government to the plight of operators of motorized fishing vessels in the city.

The committee hearing was later terminated by Councilor Coquia in the absence of the invited department heads and members of the minority. (Leonardo Micua)

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