Villarante takes chair at Talisay City council

CEBU, Philippines - Talisay City Councilor Romeo Villarante, who won as vice mayor last May 13 local election, savored his first crack at presiding over the council session yesterday after administration councilors who form the majority decided to let him take the chair on account of the absence of Vice Mayor Alan Bucao and president pro-tempore Eduardo “Digul” Gullas III. 

According to a city council house rule, if the presiding officer is absent, the president pro-tempore will be in charge of the council session.

If both the vice mayor and the president pro-tempore are not around, the majority floor leader will take over or the majority of the councilors will pick among themselves a leader. 

“It’s a collegial decision. We all agree to let him preside kay mahimo naman siyang vice mayor karon July. Mura’g practice niya,” said majority floor leader Rodi Cabigas. 

Villarante, Councilors Danilo Caballero, Valeriano Ylanan, and Aldrin Diaz, comprise the minority administration of Mayor-elect Johnny delos Reyes while the Alayon party still controls the council. 

Sought for his reaction, Villarante likens the presiding officer’s job to the work of a “referee.” 

Separately, Mayor and city councilor-elect Socrates Fernandez invited delos Reyes to attend his weekly department head meeting last Monday to personally meet them. 

Delos Reyes told the department heads that as soon as they can sit down on July 1, the administration’s priority is by providing job to the jobless, food, and medicine. 

“Gihan-ay na nako ang tanan alang niining programa ug may mga gitugyanan na ako nga maoy mopatuman sa akong mga tinguha,” delos Reyes said. 

Delos Reyes, however, did not tell the department heads about a revamp of their offices.  (FREEMAN)