Talisay City council ‘kills’ JVR’s P350M loan

CEBU, Philippines -  The plan of Talisay City Mayor Johnny De Los Reyes in constructing a new Tabunok Public Market through a P350-million loan from the Development Bank of the Philippines has finally been abandoned by the members of the City Council.

In yesterday’s regular session, the Alayon party-dominated Talisay City Council junked the resolution seeking to grant De los Reyes the authority to enter into loan agreement with the DBP to finance the new three-story market building in Tabunok.

Of the 11 members present, seven voted to exclude the resolution in the agenda. They are Councilors Richard Francis Aznar, Socrates Fernandez, Edward Alesna, Doroteo Emit, Raul Cabañero, Antonio Bacaltos and Eduardo “Digul” Gullas III.

Only Councilors Aldin Diaz, Danilo Caballero, Valeriano Ylanan and Dennis Basillote voted for the inclusions of the resolutions in their order of business.

Since absolute majority is needed to dispose the measure, Vice Mayor Romeo Villarante who presided the session ruled to set aside the discussion on the loan agreement which sought to give De Los Reyes the authority to negotiate with the DBP.

Diaz, who is with the minority bloc, re-filed the resolution after the Council in last week’s special session disapproved it because of lack of quorum that can approve such measure. 

Last week, only six members attended the special session - four administration councilors voted for the approval in giving De los Reyes the authority while two Alayon members present voted against it.

Villarante, in the special session, ruled to disapprove the resolution because of lack absolute majority.

Villarante, a lawyer by profession, pointed out that the council needs to get six votes in order to constitute an “absolute majority” for the “enactment of ordinances that authorizes the floating of bonds or other instruments of indebtedness, for the purpose of raising funds to finance development projects.”

During yesterday’s deliberation, Diaz wanted to include his re-filed resolution but Cabañero was quick to insist it should be excluded in the agenda. 

Cabañero pointed out that there was no urgency in re-filing the resolution since the resolution was already considered as “dead” and disapproved in the last special session. 

“Nganong mangahas man ta sa P350 million kung pwede ra man unta ning P50 million. Nganong adto man ta sa lisod nga mabilanggo unya ta sa utang,” Fernandez said. 

Fernandez said if the council will approve the amount, he fears the city government will have difficulty in paying the loan in the near future. 

But Diaz said the proposal is the most advantageous option for the city government just to have an immediate funding for the project. 

Meanwhile, Mayor De los Reyes described the Alayon’s action on disapproving the resolution as “irresponsible for killing the dream of the Talisaynon.” —JRS (FREEMAN)