PB to hold 2 special sessions this month

The Provincial Board should hold two special sessions this month to comply with the mandated holding of four sessions a month.

This was what board member Victor Maambong suggested during yesterday's regular session, the second for this month. The first was last December 4.

Maambong pointed out that under the Local Government Code, the local legislative body is mandated to hold four sessions in a month.

The PB was not able to conduct its regular session last December 11 because of the four-day holiday declaration by President Gloria Arroyo for the cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu, the hosts of the postponed 12th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit.

The organizers of the summit, which was supposed to be held from December 11 to 14, announced the postponement last December 8 due to Typhoon Seniang.

The PB was supposed to have its last regular session of the year on December 25. Under its rules, the PB is to hold regular session every Monday.

But to cover up for the missing two sessions, Maambong suggested that they hold special sessions on December 22 and 28.

Board Member and acting presiding officer Joven Mondigo said the agenda in a special session should be specified.

Mondigo presided yesterday's session as Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, who is on an official trip to South Korea until December 21, designated Vice Governor Gregorio Sanchez as acting governor.

Board Member Agnes Magpale is also with the governor on the trip.

Maambong said possible items to be tackled in the December 22 session are the granting of Christmas bonus to Capitol employees and the holding of an out-of-town session next year.

As for the bonus, Maambong said they have to wait for the governor if she will grant it to Capitol employees this year. On December 28, he said they might tackle the proposed 2007 annual budget following the budget hearing in the morning.

If they cannot hold the required two sessions this month, Maambong said they might have to schedule them next year, before the January 17 resumption of their regular session.

But while Sanchez, according to Board Member Juan Bolo, reportedly called for a special session to pass a resolution to adopt retired Supreme Court chief justice Artemio Panganiban as adopted son of Cebu "for preserving democracy in the country", Maambong said they might have to tackle it in the January 17 regular session.

It was during Panganiban's term when the SC ruled against the people's initiative as a mode to amend the Constitution.

Also present in yesterday's regular session were board members Raul Bacaltos, Antonio Almirante Jr., Carmiano Kintanar, Victoria Corominas, Estrella Yapha, Teresita Celis, Ramon Martin Calderon, and Alfred Francis Ouano. - Cristina C. Birondo