Baronda slams 'shabby treatment' of City Council
Baronda
City Councilor Julienne "Jam-Jam" Baronda slammed the alleged shabby treatment by the executive department of the Sangguniang Panlungsod.
Baronda observed that the city's executive department does not include the members of the City Council in most of its activities.
Baronda cited the forthcoming Dinagyang Festival where its organizer, the Iloilo Dinagyang Foundation Inc (IDFI), allotted the city councilors seats at the far-end of the Iloilo Freedom Grandstand.
Baronda said they are merely considered as "guests" and not as officials of the city government.
IDFI, Baronda added, gave every city councilor only seven tickets for reserved seats at the Freedom Grandstand.
The young city councilor also noted that the city council was not made members of the steering committee of the Dinagyang.
Baronda said, previously the city council was given the opportunity to be a part of the festival's steering committee.
When asked if she was only sourgraping, Baronda said it is not sour graping when they also demand courtesy and recognition being members of the city council.
Baronda added the names of the city councilors were also excluded in the city's website and in a brochure recently produced by the city government. The brochure entitled "Cost of Doing Business in Iloilo City" does not include the names of the city councilors.