Calamity fund triggers in-house city council battle
SP body unfazed as vice mayor gives up presiding chair post
ROXAS CITY – Controversies hounding the city's calamity fund caused yet another momentous session in the city council. With questions and concerns left unresolved, Vice Mayor Ronnie Dadivas decided to relinquish his post as presiding chair. Members of the city council were unfazed though as majority decided to push through with the proceedings.
For City Legal Officer Atty. Napoleon Oducado, the session is valid and legal since its resumption was approved by majority.
“Not even the Court nor the Supreme Court can question it since the internal rules could be amended by the majority of the members of the city council”, Oducado said.
City Councilor Carla Abela was elected as temporary presiding officer in lieu of Dadivas with the session pushed pending matters left during the last session.
City Councilor Ramon “Monchit” Alba, who is chair of internal rules, ruled that whether or not Dadivas participated the session, it will continue since it is approved by the majority of the city council.
Similar sentiments from City Councilor Wilson Acervo who stressed that the city council has an obligation to the public and for public interest.
It was learned that all that was stated in the agenda was approved in yesterday’s special session without the participation of the vice mayor.
To recall, last Thursday's session was suspended with 15 instances of recess called. The session ended up to 8:45 in the evening after the problem was not resolved wether or not to allow Dadivas from delivering his privilege speech. Subject of Dadivas' speech was the city government which he hit for realigning the calamity funds.
The vice mayor was not able to delivere his privilege speech and instead went on the air over several radio stations here, the local cable tv and gave copies to the print media.
In his supposed privilege speech, the vice mayor said out of P14.2 million fund, only P5.3 million was released not even in its entirely to the victims of Typhoon Frank. This P5.3 million was divided between the typhoon victims and the victims of the fire that razed Brgy. 6.
He added that that out of the P8.9 millions calamity fund “saving” P5.9 which was carried on to the 2009 budget was used not to assuage the suffering of the typhoon Frank victims but was to:
*Pay (2ndpayment) for the P11,000 per square meter land now a portion of La Playa or People’s Park in Brgy. Baybay- P2.4 M
* Purchase of dump trucks (P4 million)
* Additional other charges for heavy equipment loan (P.760 million)
* Pay for utility expenses (P.9 million)
* Pay for terminal leave credits (P1.8 million)
Meanwhile, City Administrator Rey Cordenillo said in a radio interview that the city government realigned the said calamity funds into priority projects. Said is in keeping with the obligation of the city government, Administrator Cordenillo added, because it is still waiting for the release of “Paglaum Funds” from the national government for the typhoon Frank victims.