Talisay council ignoring opposition proposals?

Is the administration-dominated Talisay City Council deliberately ignoring the opposition?

This question cropped up after about 15 resolutions sponsored by opposition Councilor Alan Bucao have not been acted upon. Some of these resolutions were authored since July in 2004.

"Batasan man gyud na sa council kung opposition ka dili nila lihokon," Bucao told The FREEMAN.

During the regular council session last July 4, a heated argument erupted between some administration councilors and Bucao when the majority bloc refused to take up his measure questioning the City Treasurer's Office for tolerating the operation of a satellite market in barangay Tabunok.

The administration councilors did not act upon Bucao's resolution, which he sponsored on June 23, citing that the council committee on market and abattoir has not yet submitted a committee report.

Aside from Bucao's, other resolutions and ordinances that were not acted upon come from majority floor leader Ritchel Bacaltos, Vice Mayor Aberdovey Belleza, Association of Barangay Councils president Osmundo Manreal Jr. and from Councilors Joseph Bernard Odilao, Rodi Cabigas and Sergio Restauro.

Last month, five councilors were labeled as unproductive legislators when each of them did not produce any approved legislative measure. These councilors were Sabeniano Abatayo, Ignacio Luis Jordana, Emilio Go, Association of Barangay Councils president Osmundo Manreal Jr., and SK Federation president Jo Florence bas.

But Abatayo defended his failure to produce any legislative measure, citing that the council would always refer to a certain committee once a proposed measure is filed.

In an interview with The FREEMAN, Belleza reminded councilors who were holding committee chairmanship to act on resolutions and ordinances to avoid backlog.

"As a presiding officer, I would like to remind those who are holding committee chairmanship to submit committee reports to avoid misrepresentation from the public," Belleza said.