City dads to pursue offsite quarterly sessions, hearings

CEBU, Philippines -  With an objective to be closer to the Cebuanos, Cebu City Councilor Alvin Dizon has proposed a measure institutionalizing the conduct of a quarterly offsite session of the Sangguniang Panlungsod.

Dizon pointed out that the purpose of this is to “bring the city council closer and more accessible to its constituents and to enable the latter to understand better the work and functions of the members of the City Council.”

Offsite session, Dizon said, will also enable the members of the city council to be “more aware” and “grounded” on the issues and concerns of the 80 barangays in Cebu City.

Last Wednesday, the council has referred the measure to conduct a quarterly offsite session to the committee on laws, headed by Sisinio Andales for further review.

To recall, the 12th SP first conducted offsite regular session in barangays Bonbon, Guba and Luz last Oct. 12, 2011, Oct.26, 2011 and Aug. 15, 2012, respectively.

During the offsite session, Dizon said “a public hearing shall be conducted to afford residents of the barangays the opportunity to articulate their issues, concerns, and grievances they wish the members of the city council to hear and address”.

Further, he said this would highly promote transparency, accountability, and strengthening people’s participation in good governance.  (FREEMAN)