An attempt of so-called fiscalizers in the City Council of Dumaguete to mount their own version of a legislative hearing í¢â‚¬Å“in aid of legislationí¢â‚¬Å“ suffered a setback last Tuesday after no less than City Vice Mayor Alan Gel Cordova stopped the proceedings to apologize to Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria, Councilor JV Imbo, and ABC President Albert Aquino for including them in the list of invitees.{{more}}
The Mayor and the two Councilors, along with Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce & Industry Acting President Ed Du and City Planning & Development Officer Engr. Josie Antonio, comprise the executive committee of the City Development Council. They were invited supposedly to explain why the City Council had passed a measure appropriating P2.7 million to construct an Environment Training Center despite the absence of a program of work.
Cordova told the Dumaguete MetroPost during a recess that he was caught unaware that his office had sent out invitations to the Mayor and two councilors to appear during the Councilí¢â‚¬Ëœs Question Hour that day and explain the reason for the action of the Council.
í¢â‚¬Å“If it is our intention to be respected as an institution, let us show respect. We cannot make [the chief executive] suffer the indignity of attending a session to explain his actions,í¢â‚¬Å“ Cordova said.
Cordova crossed over to Sagarbarriaí¢â‚¬Ëœs office to offer the City Councilí¢â‚¬Ëœs apology, which Sagarbarria accepted.
The issue came about after the City Council passed an Ordinance on Feb. 3 to allocate P2,796,571.90 to convert the south side of the second floor of City Hall into an Environment Training Center. The money was to be taken from the savings or unobligated balance, of previous allocations made for public works projects.
Councilor Joe Ken Arbas, who along with Councilors Antonio Remollo and Manuel Arbon, wanted to invite the Mayor and the other CDC executive committee members to appear in the session, said it was not their intention to undo the Ordinance. He said they merely wanted to be enlightened as to why there are no supporting documents.
Mayor Sagarbarria, meanwhile, said the CDC asked the City Council to appropriate the amount of P2.7 million for the Environment Training Center not because they already made detailed estimates for the project, but simply because that was the only money available at that time from the Cityí¢â‚¬Ëœs savings.
Sagarbarria said now that the money is allocated, they could make a program of work that will suit the appropriated budget.
Taking a potshot at the three councilors, Sagarbarria said the problem is they do not know their job [as legislators]. í¢â‚¬Å“They [seem to] want to do my job,í¢â‚¬ the Mayor said.
Following the faux pas, Arbas said the Council will still invite the other members of the CDC Executive Committee for the next session, minus the politicians.
