CEBU, Philippines - Mandaue City officials and employees of the 13th Sangguniang Panlungsod yesterday afternoon bade farewell to city council members who are on their third and last term in a spirit of good will.
Seven members including Vice Mayor Glen Bercede, the council presiding officer, will no longer be seen inside the session by July.
Of the seven, only councilors Emmarie Ouano-Dizon and Beethoven Andaya, who lost their bid in the last election for mayoralty and vice mayoralty, respectively, and Jose Jefferson Ceniza, did not show up while the four were able to deliver their respective valedictory addresses.
Councilors Jimmy Lumapas, Editha Cabahug and Diosdado Suico have served the maximum three terms and final term while Bercede, who is on his second term, won as Provincial Board member in the Cebu sixth district.
Lumapas, Cabahug and Suico expressed their heartfelt thanks to their colleagues and staff for the good camaraderie, the good memories they shared, the learning they got from one another and the valuable friendship shown to each other.
"I am very proud that I am a working councilor with 49 city ordinances and 113 resolutions passed and approved in my three terms," said Lumapas, who will be missed by the staff and employees for his flowers and chocolates being distributed to them every Valentine's day.
Cabahug, who will be replaced by her son Kevin, reflected on her nine years and said she is leaving her seat with good experience and knowledge, while the 82-year old veteran lawmaker Suico, through his six-page valedictory message, narrated how he was able to stay in public service for the longest period of time.
Before serving as city councilor, Suico served as an employee of the city urban planning and development.
Bercede, for his part, said that "it was an honor to be your vice mayor and with six great years to be of service comes with the expression of my gratitude" even though there were times that they have heated debates and arguments over issues pertaining to the affairs of the city government.
Bercede hopes that the incoming new set of council members will continue to offer their best for the development of the city.
Before their speeches, certificates and plaques of recognition were handed to the councilors as well as the respective legislative assistants of the outgoing members of the council.
Lapu-lapu
Also in Lapu-Lapu City, six public officials who are in their last term as city councilors were recognized by the city's 13th Sangguniang Panlunsod in yesterday's 133rd and final assembly inside the city's Session Hall.
Vice Mayor Marcial Ycong, presiding officer of the council session yesterday gave plaques of recognition to councilors Queenie Malingin-Amman, Eduardo Cuizon, Alexander Gestopa, Efren Herrera, Florito Pozon and Francisco Senerpida, as witnessed by Mayor Paz Radaza, fellow City Hall employees and other members of the council.
Amman was the head of the committee on women and children, Cuizon heads the committee on education and transportation, Gestopa chairs the committee on environment, Herrera leads the committee on good governance, Pozon heads the committee on laws and infrastructure while Senerpida chairs the committee on personal development.
Senerpida supposedly is on his second term but due to health reasons, he decided not to run again.
The outgoing councilors thanked the SP and the other members of the council for giving each of them the chance to serve the public as they also committed to still support the plans and programs of the Deretso Team.
The Deretso Team won straight in the last May 9 elections. The last-termer councilors will be replaced by the incoming six councilors who won in the recent elections: Cipriano Flores, Damian Gomez, Flaviano Hiyas Jr., Nelson Yap, Gregorio Paquibot Jr. and Ricardo Amores.
Other remaining SP members who will continue to serve the city government are re-elected councilors Melissa Dignos-Vidal, Elias Berdin, Harry Radaza, Eduardo Patalinjug, Leo Mercado and Roque Wagwag.
In her speech, Radaza also thanked the last-term councilors as they have contributed to the development of the city and for being the "backbone" of her administration.
"Your efforts and their fruits definitely will not end today as we witness the last session of the 13th Sangguniang Panlungsod. The City and its people will continue to cherish and benefit from it even beyond the last strike of the gavel today," Radaza said.
The last session of the city council ended around 3:30 p.m. — (FREEMAN)