Dagupan SP vows check-and-balance
DESPITE SUPERMAJORITY
DAGUPAN Mayor Dean Bryan Kua and members of the city council assured Dagupeños of strong checks and balances in governance despite holding a near-unanimous supermajority aligned with Mayor Belen Fernandez.
Following the inaugural session of the 12th Sangguniang Panlungsod on July 1, Kua, who sits as presiding officer of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP), expressed satisfaction with the council’s productive start.
“We already worked on the first day. We have already passed 10 resolutions. And we have another 10 for the committee hearing this Thursday,” he said.
The new city council, with 9 out of 10 elected members belonging to the mayor’s slate, promised to break away from the obstructionist politics of the past three years and work toward a more collaborative and transparent governance that puts Dagupan residents first.
Councilor Karlos Reyna noted the shift in atmosphere compared to the previous term, saying, “I am glad that I was able to see everything, pro-progress, and in unison with the vision of our mayor. Actually, if we look at it, that is what the people of Dagupan want — they want the government to be united, unlike before.”
The previous council, ruled by opposition councilors, was often marred by political gridlock, with the majority of members blocking development-oriented projects.
Responding to concerns about potential rubber-stamping, Councilor Michael Fernandez underscored the SP’s commitment to informed, accountable decision-making.
“We assure you, whether we say yes or we say no, the justification, the basis will always be presented to the people. ’Yun po yung pinaka-mahalaga sa lahat,” he said, adding that proposals will be acted on with urgency and transparency.
Kua echoed this, reaffirming public access to proceedings.
He also cited early debates in the inaugural session as evidence that critical discussion is welcome.
Councilor Joey Tamayo, meanwhile, pointed to the media’s role as watchdogs, stressing, “There is the fourth state and the fourth state is the media.” (Eva Visperas)
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