House sends invite to Capitol dads on Culasi townhood bill
Members of the 9th Iloilo Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) have been sent official invites by the House of Representatives relative to ongoing talks for the proposed conversion of Brgy. Culasi, Ajuy into a municipality.
Received yesterday, signatory of the invite was Representative George Arnaiz, chair of the House Committee on Local Government.
Hearing is set tomorrow at 1:30 pm with the Capitol board members set to be resource persons on continuing deliberations of House Bill No. 3753.
Entitled "An Act creating the Municipality of Culasi in the Province of Iloilo and for other purposes," author of said bill is Fifth District Representative Niel "Junjun" Tupas Jr.
The invite is aimed at getting the board members' "valuable insights on the bill" amidst dissention from barangay, municipal and provincial officials.
To recall, discussions in September on the proposal turned too intense and got the Ilonggo solon to 'burst.'
With several fist-banging on the table to prove his point and apparent exasperation, colleagues in the Lower House got a 'ringside' view.
A fellow Ilonggo solon, First District Representative Janette Loreto-Garin was on the other side and purportedly the source of Tupas Jr.'s ire.
With queries after queries made, Garin set off the outburst of Tupas Jr.
Bombo Radyo then got hold of the incident and reached committee member, yet another Ilonggo solon, Iloilo City Lone District Representative Raul Gonzalez Jr. for confirmation.
The city solon said the unexpected outburst almost led to a walk-out of Makati City Second District Representative Marlen Abigail Binay. The hearing was conducted by the House Committee on Local Government.
Meantime, outburst and all, Iloilo Third District Representative Arthur Defensor has since expressed reservations on the passage of the Culasi Bill.
Defensor, House Majority Leader made the disclosure over Bombo Radyo adding that in the committee level, he believes the proposal will fail.
Too many objections and major reasons, he explained, pointing out the primary objection made official by the town of Ajuy , Iloilo as the primary stakeholder.
A letter was also reportedly submitted to the House committee voicing out the same sentiments against the Culasi bill from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).