CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu Provincial Board failed to hold its regular session for the past two consecutive weeks for lack of quorum.
PB Secretary Atty. Pulchra Marie Acevedo said most of the board members were either on leave or out on official business during the April 1 and 8 sessions. Last Monday only seven out of 17 board members were present.
Acevedo said that despite having no sessions, the provincial legislative body still complied with what is required under the law.
“We opened the session but there was no quorum. I believe we still complied with the DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government) rules to hold the weekly session… We cannot say that there is no session. In fact we prepared the two agenda and opened the session but there was no quorum,” she said.
Acevedo maintained that the legislative body is still compliant with the house rules because the board members continue to attend to their obligations such as submitting their draft resolutions or ordinances, and committee reports.
She said the agenda, which provides the written calendar of business during the regular sessions, are all prepared while the sessions are still continually scheduled every Mondays.
She explained that the board members, who were not present during the previous sessions, either filed an official leave of absence or were out for an official business; some also took a sick leave or emergency leave. Acevedo emphasized that the board members are entitled to privilege leaves.
“Under the Local Government Code, the absences are sanctioned or there might be a negative connotation if it is not justified but in their case, some are on official business and personal leave,” she said.
Vice Governor Agnes Magpale, presiding officer of the board, said she will make sure that there will be a quorum in the next session day.
The DILG-7, in a statement, said that “there would be no violation of the law if the absences incurred by the Sanggunian members (board members) were authorized.”
“What the law prohibits is consecutive absences without justifiable cause. If they fail to muster a quorum owing to the absences, which are allowed by law, then (there is) no problem with that,” it added. (FREEMAN)