ILOILO City – Mayor Jerry P. Treñas has taken the high road.
He officially rescinded his executive order declaring Bacolod City’s Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran persona non grata or unwelcome in Iloilo City.
Executive Order (EO) No. 088-2023 issued yesterday revoked EO No. 083-2023 that considered Familiaran undesirable.
The revoked EO stemmed from the uncoordinated transfer of 80 mendicant Badjaos from Bacolod City to Iloilo City last month. That time, Familiaran was the acting mayor of Bacolod.
Treñas took offense and traded barbs with Familiaran.
What changed Treñas’ mind?
“Bacolod City mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez and Vice Mayor El Cid Familarian both apologised for the mix-up…and it was later disclosed that…the lack of coordination with the Iloilo City Government (was) not solely attributable to Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran,” stated Treñas in EO No. 088-2023.
The Iloilo City mayor also clarified he had no ill-feelings towards Familiaran.
But he maintained that mendicant Badjaos will not be tolerated in Iloilo City.
“They beg on the streets and are hostile to those refusing to give alms. We cannot allow that,” Treñas stressed.
On June 24, 77 mendicant Badjaos, assisted by the local social welfare and development offices of Iloilo City and Dumangas, Iloilo, were sent back to Bacolod City via a roll-on roll-off (roro) vessel from the Dumangas port.
Treñas said proper coordination was made with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region 6 before the Badjaos were transported by a Ceres bus from Bacolod to Dumaguete City where from there they boarded a ship that ferried them back to their home province Zamboanga./PN
