City council approves 56 resolutions and 3 ordinances in last session day

CEBU, Philippines - Until its last session day the members of the outgoing Cebu City council proved themselves productive with the passage of the 56 resolutions and three ordinances.

The three ordinances that the 11th Sangguniang Panlungsod approved before they officially ended last night are the Comprehensive Anti-Smoking Ordinance, Ordinance Requiring All Persons Operating and Doing Business in Cebu City for Mandatory Submission of Environmental Sustainability Action Plan Upon Securing or Renewing Business Permits and Ordinance Reviving the Cebu City Hillyland Management Board.

The members of the outgoing council also marked their last session day by the unveiling of the two markers showing the two consecutive excellence awards bestowed upon the city council in 2007 and 2009.

The outgoing council has been a recipient of the Local Legislative Award for the Highly Urbanized or Independent Component Cities category twice for being an outstanding council in the aspects of legislation particularly the substance of the enacted legislative measures, the efficiency of the records staff, completeness of the record of the Agenda, Journals, and Minutes Division and the availability of facilities and amenities within the session hall.

“These markers shall be an inspiration and a reminder for the incoming 12th Sangguniang Panlungsod especially for the seven new members coming starting on July 1,” said outgoing Vice-Mayor and presiding officer Michael Rama.

Although he is already taking the rein of power as mayor, Rama said he will occasionally visit the council which he presided for nine years.

“This is not farewell, but I assure you that I will still be nearby and in fact still within the legislative premises in a few months. Definitely I will be here again especially during the traditions of the annual inaugural sessions or during sessions where matters of great importance will have to be addressed,” he said in his thank you speech.

Rama has been an active member of the council for 18 years during his three terms as councilor and three terms as vice-mayor.

Vice Mayor-elect Joy Augustus Young will take his place on July 1. The incoming 12th Sangguniang Panlungsod will be composed by both old and new faces.

Among the new comers are urban poor leader Alvin Dizon, former Barrio Luz Captain Maria Nida Cabrera, Alvin Arcilla, Sisinio Andales, Noel Wenceslao, Ronald Cuenco and Margarita Osmeña.

They will replace the seats to be vacated by outgoing Councilors Nestor Archival, Arsenio Pacaña, Sylvan Jakosalem, Edwin Jagmoc, Gerardo Carillo and Christopher Alix.

Pacaña thanked his fellow councilors and his constituents for making his nine years in the council productive.

He said that he will be willing to serve Mayor-elect Rama in whatever capacity the latter would wish him to do. Pacaña was chairman of the committee on tourism and committee on trade and industry.(FREEMAN NEWS)