Reader reacts to TF news item

This is a reaction to a news article written by Liv G. Ocampo/ATO last May 5, 2014 entitled, Talisay Administrator Reminds VM: Stick to legislative matter.

The good gentleman, Mr. John Yre de los Reyes, Talisay City administrator and the son of Mayor  Johnny V. De los Reyes has to be reminded of the following principles on governance.

1. Check and Balance.  With the end view of ensuring a better delivery of public service and provide a system of check and balance between the Executive and the Legislative, there is a need to distribute powers among elective local officials so that the Legislative, which is the Sanggunian, can properly check the Executive which is the Mayor and vice versa and exercise their functions without any undue interference from one by the other.

The avowed intent is provided for by Republic Act No. 7160 which is to vest on the Sangguniang Panlungsod independence in the exercise of its legislative functions viz-à-viz the discharge of the mayor of the executive functions.

Hence, requesting the mayor to make an inventory through a resolution passed and approved by the city council on the list and the number of job orders in his office (Mayor's office) is an exercise of its legislative functions.

2. Collegial Body.  The 5th Sangguniang Panlungsod of Talisay City is a collegial body.  It is not the vice mayor, Attorney Romeo C. Villarante.  For purposes of discussion may I invite, the good gentleman, John Yre de los Reyes, again to review the definition of SP as a collegial body.  It is a body that is composed of a group of individuals elected to represent the people's interest. It has the power to enact ordinances, approve resolutions and appropriate funds for the welfare of the local government unit and its inhabitants.

Deliberations made during its regular sessions are voted and agreed upon by all the members of the council as a collegial body.

The chairman, in the person of vice mayor, Attorney Romeo C. Villarante, cannot even vote during deliberations  except only to break a tie.

3. Limitations on issuing appointments on job order employees.

In issuing appointments, the budgetary limitations of forty-five (45%) in the case of first to third class provinces, cities, municipalities and fifty-five (55%) in the case of fourth class or lower of the total annual income should be observed. (There is no such thing as infinite hiring of job orders by the mayor as announced by Mr. John Yre)

 "A guide to Local Chief Executive on Public Personnel Administration" Civil Service Commission"

4. An administrator, who is a broker by profession reminding a vice mayor who is a member of the bar (lawyer) to stick to legislative matters sounds ridiculous and offensive.  Be that as it may, I leave it to the readers to make a better assessment as to the kind of a city administrator that Talisay City has.

Governance is not the sole responsibility of government. Taxpayers  have  to  demand transparency  and  efficient  service  from  the  local  governments  and  national  government agencies. Most  importantly,  we  have  to  do  what  we  demand  from  government  officials: individually,  we  have  to  do  what  is  right  and  pursue  the  "tuwid  na  daan."

Don Sangkay

San Isidro, Talisay City