Mandaue SP to meet for inaugural session

CEBU, Philippines - The newly elected Mandaue City council will meet for its 12th Sangguniang Panlungsod inaugural session at 2 o'clock this afternoon.

This was announced yesterday by Vice Mayor Glenn Bercede.

Bercede, who was the former barangay captain of Banilad, said that first councilor Dianne Bercede Abanes will take over his functions in Banilad now that he has assumed office as vice mayor of the city.

The vice mayor said that today's inaugural session will discuss house rules that would govern the council, the recognition of barangay Opao captain Joy Ouano as the newly appointed Association of Barangay Council president, and the executive agenda of Mayor Jonas Cortes that was put on hold during the previous sanggunian.

Bercede said he received yesterday afternoon the appointment of Ouano from the National League of Barangays ,appointing her as ABC president of Mandaue city, the position being vacant during the 11th SP due to the conflict between Bercede and Ouano, who both run and claimed the ABC presidency in 2007.

The new council has also decided to change the schedule of the regular session from the usual 2 p.m. every Tuesday to 3 p.m. every Wednesday.

Bercede reiterated there is no truth to reports no office table was provided for opposition Councilor Emmarie "Lollipop" Ouano-Dizon in the SP office.

Bercede said all elected city councilors will have their own office/cubicles and that Ouano is also entitled to five legislative assistants who will be working for her office.

He said that last week the offices of the councilors were not arranged yet but assured that everything will be fixed this week.

"Wa pa gani ta nakapahimutang kay busy kaayo dire sa akong upisina kay daghang nag-courtesy call, daghan na dayong mga istorya nga nag-una. Nagtamod tawon ko oi pabilin akong respeto nilang Ingko Pedong ug Thadeo," Bercede said.

Bercede said his respect for the Ouano family will remain with him even if he is now allied with the Cortes administration.

Bercede said he served as councilor for nine years under the administration of former Mandaue city Mayor Thadeo Ouano, who is the father of Ouano-Dizon. Thadeo Ouano is now serving as a provincial board member representing the sixth district.

Bercede said re-electionist Councilors Beethoven Andaya and Editha Cabahug had initially agreed to swap offices because Andaya, who has been designated as the new committee chairman on budget, finance, and appropriation, would need more room for his staff. (FREEMAN NEWS)