Protest action vs Dagupan’s 7 councilors continues
THE protest action condemning the seven councilors comprising the majority in the Sangguniang Panlungsod by those affected by the 2023 annual budget that took away jobs and scholarships, continued last week.
This time, the protesters strung streamers emblazoned with” WE WILL NEVER FORGET!” and “MGA HUMAHADLANG SA AMING MGA PANGARAP, HINDI NAMIN LILIMUTIN-2,500 scholars” messages around the city.
The streamers were installed at the railings of the foot bridges on Arellano Street in front of Nepo Mall, in front of the Dagupan City National High School on Tapuac Road, and along he A.B. Fernandez Ave. in front of Magsaysay Market.
The protest action started during the flag-raising ceremony at the Dagupan City Plaza on April 17.
Target of streamers were councilors that comprised the majority, namely Redford Erfe-Mejia (chairman of committee and appropriations), Celia Lim and Irene Lim-Acosta (mother and sister, respectively, of former Mayor Brian Lim), Librada Reyna-Macalanda (majority leader), Alvin Coquia, Alfie Fernandez and Marilou Fernandez.
Recall that the proposed scholarship budget for 2,500 college scholars in the 2023 annual budget were deleted leaving funds only for the 2,000 plus scholars of the past Lim administration.
Mayor Belen Fernandez had announced during the flag ceremony that she vetoed the anti-people Annual Investment Program (AIP) and partially vetoed the anti-poor Annual Budget in the amount of P864.9 million and vowed to fight for the restoration of the laid-off workers and all services denied by the SP majority.
With the reenacted 2022 budget that allocated only P1.38 billion, the Fernandez administration restored appropriations for the more than 1,000 job order employees who were displace and for the Special Educational Fund (SEF).
Meanwhile, the majority members attempted but failed to correct their fatal errors during a special session by passing a new AIP of P2.188 billion after Mayor Fernandez vetoed the original AIP ordinance that violated the provision in the constitution. (Leonardo Micua)
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