SP majority bloc hijacks another ordinance by minority
LASIP CHICO AS “LECHON CAPITAL”
THE minority councilors in the Dagupan Sangguniang Panlungsod again denounced the majority bloc’s hijacking of ordinances that the former originally crafted.
Councilor and Minority Floor Leader Michael Fernandez said Draft Ordinance No. 0-896 submitted by the majority bloc for second reading, is similar to Draft Ordinance No. 0-883, which he and Councilors Jeslito Seen, Dennis Canto, Marcelino Fernandez and Bradley Benavides submitted for first reading on May 17, 2024.
Submitted for second reading was titled: “An Ordinance formally recognizing Lasip Chico as Lechon Capital of Dagupan and Institutionalizing a Lechon Festival Every Saturday of May.”
The original draft submitted by the minority to the committee on tourism for approval was titled, “An Ordinance formally recognizing Lasip Chico as Lechon Capital of Dagupan City, institutionalizing a Lechon Festival every first Saturday of May and declaring it as one of the integral parts of the Dagupan Bangus Festival.”
The hijacked Draft Ordinance O-896 was authored by Councilors Librada Reyna, Redford Erfe-Mejia, Alvin Coquia, Allie Fernandez, Marilou Fernandez, Celia Lim and Irene Lim-Acosta per a joint committee report of the committees on tourism, arts, culture and heritage; barangay affairs; laws, ordinances and judiciary; and finance budget and appropriation that they all head.
Fernandez deplored the “continuous anomalous and unethical habit” of the majority bloc even as he clarified that they cannot vote against it because the purpose and reason for the ordinance was originally the minority’s which was submitted more than two months ago.
Fernandez said attached to their draft ordinance, was Barangay Resolution No. 1 of Lasip Chico urging the SP to pass an ordinance declaring “Lasip Chico as Lechon Capital of Dagupan, and institutionalizing a Lechon Festival.”
He said by simply introducing minor amendments to the ordinance, the majority bloc cannot claim exclusive authorship.
The change of docket number and names of authors of the measure were made after the minority’s Draft Ordinance No, 0-833 went through “committee hearings” controlled by the majority members. (Leonardo Micua)
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