Talisay dad denies claims SP blocking opposition proposals

CEBU, Philippines - Talisay City Councilor Bernard Odilao yesterday rejected reports that the administration councilors have been blocking the proposals of the three minority councilors.

"I'm slighted by this report nga niingon nga pirmi namong babagan ilang resolution. It is not blocking, gi-refer ra namo sa proper committees kay mao man nay naa sa House Rules," said Odilao in an interview.

Odilao's reaction came after he read a report from a local tabloid (not Banat News) alleging that they in the administration bloc have been thwarting the passage of each of their proposals in the council.

They would then duplicate the blocked proposals so that they will get the credit for having passed the measures, according to the report.

But Odilao said that based on the House Rules, only a councilor with committee chairmanship can sponsor a resolution or ordinance, and since, none of the three minority councilors-Danny Caballero, Romeo Villarante, and Val Ylanan-head a committee, therefore, they can not sponsor any measures in the council.

Despite this setup, however, the third-term councilor said the administration has allowed a number of resolutions filed by these three councilors.

"Nakapasar naman na sila og mga resolution ug ordinance, wa man mi moreklamo. Kana lang gyud kung tan-aw namo nga kinahanglan pang i-refer or estudyuhan sa involved committee, then we refer their proposals," Odilao said.

The legislator also said that his resolution allowing the release of the $10,000 donation of MV United to be used for the rehabilitation of the city's three marine protected areas, which was approved last week, was not a duplication of Caballero's.

Odilao said Caballero's proposal was to request Mayor Socrates Fernandez to replace the destroyed buoys in the Lagundi Reef, after MV United ran aground there in March 2009, while his was for the release of the donation.

The council deferred the approval of Caballero's resolution, however, saying that there has already been an existing measure with the same tune.

The administration council is however open to work together with the minority councilors in case they have other helpful suggestions which involve the environment and the city's agricultural aspects.

Odilao is chairman on Environment and the Agriculture committees. (FREEMAN)