Bucao: No problem with minority bloc

CEBU, Philippines - Talisay City Vice Mayor Alan Bucao yesterday assured the minority bloc in the city council that it will be treated fairly and equally especially when it comes to sponsoring resolutions, in aid of legislation and investigation. r

This as Bucao told The Freeman that he finds it reasonable for opposition Councilor Romeo Villarante to inquire about how the local calamity fund was disbursed after the city council declared a state of calamity in seven coastal barangays that suffered from huge waves caused by Typhoon Gener.

Villarante, through a proposed resolution, asked the local treasurer to submit a report on the utilization/disbursement of the calamity fund.

“That is a legitimate resolution. It is a legitimate request, nganong ato man i-question?” Bucao said.

Villarante, a lawyer and neophyte councilor, will be challenging the vice mayoralty post in the 2013 mid-term election.

But Bucao clarified that he has no problem with Villarante.

Aside from Bucao and Villarante, former vice mayor Aberdovey Belleza will also vie for the same position he had held before.

According to Bucao, he will not let politics distract his functions as presiding officer and to see to it that members of the council will be given freedom, whether they belong to the minority or the majority.

Last August 3, the city council declared barangays Poblacion, Cansojong, Dumlog, Pooc, Tangke, Biasong, and San Roque under a state of calamity.

According to Villarante, when the city approved the resolution for the declaration of a state calamity, it did not specify the amount chargeable to the calamity fund.

He said Section 7 subparagraph b.5 states that the local treasurer shall prepare and submit a report on the utilization/disbursement of the calamity fund, duly approved by the local chief executive to the sanggunian concerned, Commission on Audit and Local Development Council copy furnished the Local Disaster Coordination Council.

Resolution no. 2012-26-1, Villarante said, did not specify the amount chargeable to the calamity fund. (FREEMAN)