The Cebu City government wants to strengthen its City Disaster Coordinating Council by designating more members who can help speed up the implementation of services to victims of calamities.
City disaster action officer Gerardo Carillo and councilor Rodrigo Abellanosa wants the city treasurer, budget officer, the head of the city’s General Services Division, city accountant and representatives of City Traffic Operations Management, Metropolitan Cebu Water District, Visayan Electric Company and the 51st Marines Reserve Battalion to be added as members of the council.
Carillo explained that the treasurer, budget officer and the accountant can help speed up the release of funds needed for the rehabilitation of areas that will be hit by calamity and the victims in particular.
While the City Council committee on laws and ordinances headed by councilor Edgardo Labella said there is no obstacle for the said proposal of Carillo and Abellanosa, he objected to the proposal that Mayor Tomas Osmeña, being the chairman of the council, be allowed to designate his representatives when he cannot attend and preside the meeting of the disaster council.
Labella explained that the proposal violates Presidential Decree 1566 that “expressly makes the mayor of the city as the chairman of the city disaster coordinating council”.
“The committee, therefore observes that this cannot be legally done because this actually allows a delegate exercising delegated authority to further delegate the same to another not authorized by the law,” Labella said, adding “Delegatus non potest delegare or a delegate cannot further delegate.” — Rene Borromeo/BRP