SP majority wants ‘kalutan’ in ABF permanently
BRGY KAPS BACK ‘BANGUSAN’ IN DVEH
THE seven-man majority at the Dagupan Sangguniang Panlungsod passed a resolution seeking to make Bangus Festival’s “Kalutan ed Dalan” permanent feature to be staged along A.B. Fernandez Avenue (ABF), a measure vigorously opposed by the city’s Liga ng mga Barangay that adopted its own resolution recommending the return of the annual Bangus Festival culminating event, “Bangusan Street Party”, to the De Venecia Extension Highway (DVEH).
The move of the majority was made to counter plans of the Fernandez administration to restore the Bangusan Street Party at the DVEH, the venue during the first six years of reign of Mayor Belen Fernandez. (The venue was shifted to A.B. Fernandez Ave last April 2022 during the Lim administration).
Draft Ordinance No. 0-819, on motion of Councilor Redford Erfe-Mejia and jointly seconded by Councilors Celia Lim and Marilou Fernandez, argued that ABF was the original venue of the “Kalutan ed Dalan” of Dagupan City’s Bangus Festival during the administration of then Mayor Benjamin Lim.
The measure was supported by Councilors Librada Reyna-Macalanda, Alvin Coquia, Alfie Fernandez and Irene Lim-Acosta.
Erfe-Mejia also authored Ordinance No. 08200, adopting the official logo for Dagupan City’s Bangus Festival, the logo used by the past administration, reportedly registered with the Intellectual Property Office on November 14, 2019 and approved on March 9, 2020.
Vice Mayor and presiding officer Bryan Kua declared the two ordinances passed with objections.
Meanwhile, the resolution of the Liga ng mga Barangay approved during a meeting on December 15 at the River Grove, was read during the privilege time during the SP session on December 20 by Liga president Marcelino Fernandez, prior to the passage by majority members of the two proposed ordinances.
The resolution, approved by 20 barangay captains present with 11 other barangay captains absent, stated:. . . “our collective experience have shown that bringing said event back to the bigger and wider expanse of the De Venecia extension road is the more favorable alternative given its tremendous impact to tourism, aquaculture and over-all safety and security of the people.”
The 20 barangay captains said even regional tourism and police officials have noted greater benefits by staging the event at the DVEH when nearly 1 million visitors participated in 2018 that earned an acclaim that it was the biggest party in northern Philippines that had no major untoward incident recorded because of better and improved security and safety conditions.
The two measures are expected to be vetoed by Mayor Belen Fernandez. To override her veto, SP needs nine votes. (Leonardo Micua)
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