Inaugural session charts direction of city council

Yesterday's inaugural session of the city council went smoothly for an hour with three amendments carried on the council's rules of procedure and with the council highlighting the direction it want to take in the days ahead.

The city councilors together with Vice Mayor Michael Rama, all belonging to the ruling party Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan, all looked regal in black with uniform neckties.

Councilor Edgar Labella, chairman of the Committee on Laws, Ordinances, Public Accountability and Good Government, proposed three amendments on three articles of the rules of procedure.

In the order of business, the council agreed that appropriation measures exceeding P50,000 shall not be allowed during the amendment of the resolution "except when the item or items are charged to the calamity fund as approved by the City Mayor upon the recommendation of the Cebu City Disaster Coordinating Council, in which case the appropriation of more than P50,000."

The council also agreed to amend the general rules governing resolutions, motions, petitions, communication and other matters, which would read "all resolutions whether supporting or opposing a bill of Congress, executive order, administrative order or other issuances of a duly constituted authority must be accompanied by a copy of said proposed measure or order of issuances sought to be supported or opposed."

Likewise, the article on privilege speeches and unfinished business was also agreed to be amended such that any member of the council, with the permission of the presiding officer, may deliver a privilege speech after a public hearing, if the latter is conducted.

The city council also presented a multimedia presentation showing its eight-point agenda including addressing the South Reclamation Project, basic education, Reinvention of governance in the city, peace and order, social services, strategic development planning, reviewing of revenue measures and in making Cebu a livable city.