Lapu-Lapu dad posts perfect attendance

CEBU, Philippines - A total of 48 sessions were conducted by the 11th Lapu-Lapu City Council in 2009 marked by the perfect attendance of only one member who did not miss a single regular session, be it official business or unofficial business.

Lapu-Lapu City Councilor Efren Herrera, a veteran local legislator and former congressman, was never been absent in all 48 Wednesdays.

While some of his colleagues went on leave either for Manila or for Cebu’s conference for Philippine Councilor’s League, Herrera made it a point to go back to Lapu-Lapu to attend the council session.

“Bisan naay functions or conference or seminar ang PCL, mouli gyud ko aron makatabang sa session,” Herrera told The FREEMAN.

According to Herrera, he fully devouts his time to public service because he has an obligation to the people in the city. As a city councilor from 1988 to 1998, he said he had not skipped a session and when he was elected as congressman in 1998, he never missed any sessions in the House.

Herrera, who was reelected as city councilor for his third and last term, ranked number one in the last May 10 polls.

“Wala man ko’y laing business after I retire from my construction business,” he said.

City secretary Francisco Limpangog said the veteran lawmaker never missed a session except in 2008 when the councilor went to Israel. 

 “Ang akong natiman-an nga naka-absent si Councilor Herrera was in 2008 when he went to the Holy Land,” Limpangog said.

In contrast, Association of Barangay Council president Leo Mercado had 18 absences from the regular sessions but he said he went on official business but it was not recorded as official business.

Mercado said his absences do not mean he was remiss in his duties as president of the association saying that “naa ko anang gipang-attend nga importanteng lakaw sa barangay.”

There are 30 barangays in the city.

Former city councilor Damian Gomez Jr. had 13 absences, Sangguniang Kabataan president and ex-officio councilor Reymar Dico with 11.

City Councilors Junard Chan had 10 absences. Eduardo Cuizon, Florito Pozon and Quennie Amman recorded six absences, with three absences being on official business.

Rodolfo Potot had five absences with one listed as official business.

Marcial Ycong has three absences with two “on official business.” Councilors Cornelio Pahang and Alexander Gestopa recorded three absences, while Vice Mayor Mario Amores had two absences.

In an interview with The FREEMAN, Cuizon said that while attendance in the session is important, the performance and action of the elected official is also important. 

“Sa eskwelahan ang importante dili man lang attendance but also the grades. Mu-matter ang attendance but what counts most is the performance,” Cuizon said.   (FREEMAN NEWS)