BACOLOD City – For the second time in two weeks, the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) failed to transact any business in its Wednesday regular session.
This, according to Councilor Ricardo Tan, is a “black eye to the good name” of the SP.
Quorum was not reached as only six out of 15 members of the SP were present at the session hall yesterday, said Tan, who acts as vice mayor.
Among those who were present were Tan, councilors Wilson Gamboa Jr., Jesus Claudio Puentevella, Elmer Sy, and Ana Marie Palermo and Sangguniang Kabataan Federation president Ayesha Joy Villaflor.
Councilor Sonya Verdeflor was on official leave while outgoing Liga ng mga Barangay president Noli Villarosa was on vacation leave.
Newly elected Liga president Lady Gles Gonzales has yet to receive confirmation from the National Executive Board of the Liga ng mga Barangay.
The other SP members – Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran and councilors Caesar Distrito, Em Ang, Renecito Novero, Bartolome Orola, Cindy Rojas, and Dindo Ramos – were on a 16-day official trip to Long Beach City since July 19 to attend the Californian city’s version of MassKara Festival.
With this setup, Tan said a no-quorum scenario is inevitable.
He added that he is not against city officials travelling, but stressed that the SP members should have taken into consideration that public interest will be jeopardized should they leave the city en masse.
“As a result, there are now several pending resolutions because the SP cannot act on them,” Tan said./PN
