Dad: Limit session hall use

Meetings, conferences, and public hearings or any gathering at the Talisay City session hall other than the special and regular sessions of the city council will soon be prohibited should a proposed ordinance of councilor Sabeniano Abatayo get the approval of the council.

Abatayo said "the session hall, being the usual venue of the deliberations of the august body, the Sangguniang Panlungsod, is generally considered with an atmosphere of reverence, it being a hallowed or sanctified place."

He added that public hearings like the ones conducted by various associations and even non-government organizations must be conducted at the people's social hall, and not at the session hall.

The councilor said that limiting the use of the session hall would also mean lesser use of the air-conditioning units, thus minimizing the use of electricity.

The Talisay City government has appropriated P19.5 million to cover expenses on electricity, and that two weeks ago, the city spent close to P500,000 for the renovation of the session hall. - Garry B. Lao