Cutie wants dad as prexy in dev’t council meetings

CEBU, Philippines -  Cebu City north district Rep. Rachel “Cutie” Del Mar yesterday requested Mayor Michael Rama to allow her father, former congressman Raul Del Mar, to represent her during her absences from meetings of the Cebu City Development Council.

But the mayor, chairman of the CCDC, does not seem keen on granting her request to extend to her father the rights as a member.  CCDC members have the right to participate in the deliberation of issues and can also vote.

The meeting yesterday was called to approve P15.5 million for several proposed development projects in different barangays of the city.

A few minutes after the CCDC meeting was called to order, Cutie stood up and requested Rama who presided the gathering to allow her father, who used to be the north district congressman, to represent her.

She cited Section 107 of the Local Government Code, which supported her move.

During the previous CCDC meetings, Rama said the representatives of members can only monitor and take note of the proceedings, they cannot participate in the deliberation or vote.

But Del Mar said Rama’s move affects her fundamental rights as a member to speak and to participate in the deliberation of issues.  She explained that she cannot always attend the CCDC meetings as she also has to attend sessions in Congress.

“If you deny the right of my representative to speak, you are in fact denying my right to speak and participate in the deliberations,” Cutie said.

She also wanted to amend the agenda in yesterday’s meeting of the CCDC to include the issue about the proposed construction of two flyover projects in Barangay Mabolo, but it did not materialize.

At the height of the argument, Rama declared the proceedings suspended to allow the members to have lunch.  However, before Rama could call for the resumption of the meeting, several barangay captains had left the session hall.

The two issues Del Mar raised to the body were about to be voted on by the members to get their sentiments, but the voting did not push through because of lack of quorum.  Of the more than 100 members of the CCDC, only 48 were left.

Del Mar said she was so discouraged by the move of the mayor and his allied barangay captains who objected to her proposal to build two flyover projects along the intersections of MJ Cuenco and Juan Luna avenues in Barangay Mabolo, and another flyover in Juan Luna corner Cardinal Rosales avenues.

Rama earlier said only the widening of roads, not flyovers, can solve heavy traffic.  He proposed it would be better if the funds used for the flyover projects shall be spent to improve the drainage systems to solve flooding.  (FREEMAN)