Cebu City Council bares accomplishments: “Good results” seen

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Council has seen “some good results” in its policy direction and has considered the current group of having produced a decent number of legislations for its constituents and in support for the Singapore-like vision.

The City Council has passed 3,649 resolutions, considered 147 committee reports, deliberated 131 ordinances in 41 regular sessions, 36 executive sessions and five special sessions.

“This is on top of the individual projects and initiatives of every member of the Sanggunian which run the entire spectrum of socio-economic development,” said Vice Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia, who is also the council’s presiding officer.

Of the 131 proposed ordinances drafted and submitted, the 16th Sanggunian has approved 37.

In the same session, Cebu City’s 16th Sangguniang Panlungsod has welcomed newly elected officers and standing committees for 2023-2024 during the annual Reorganizational Session yesterday at the Don Macapagal Hall, although there was not much change in the top leadership positions.

As the vice mayor, Garcia remained as the Presiding Officer, while City Councilor Donaldo C. Hontiveros was elected the President Pro Tempore.

Jocelyn G. Pesquera stayed as Majority Floor Leader, while James Anthony R. Cuenco was elected as the 1st Assistant Majority Floor Leader, and Philip S. Zafra as the 2nd Asst. Majority Floor Leader.

Nestor D. Archival, Sr. was elected as the Minority Floor Leader and Hon. Joy Augustus G. Young elected as Asst. Minority Floor Leader.

Unity  Amidst Adversity

Mayor Michael Rama, for his part, has reiterated the policy direction to make Cebu a city-state like Singapore through B.A.R.U.G. Cebu City being a “collective aspiration.”

“This is not about winning, not about losing, but doing what is right,” said Rama during the session.

He reminded the members of the city council to do their service in unity amidst adversity and to discard the divide between the minority and majority.

During the adoption of the 16th Sangguniang Panlungsod House Rules for Fiscal Year 2023-2024, Archival has presented a number of concerns and suggestions regarding the rules, but these were just “acknowledged.”

Archival suggested public participation; transparency and accountability; informed decision making; building trust and collaboration; problem identification; and citizens’ hour.

“Citizens' hour is an essential component of the democratic governance allowing citizens to actively participate in decision making, fostering transparency and accountability and building stronger connection between the government and the community that it serves,” said Archival.

The rest of the city council acknowledged Archival’s suggestions however they believed that these issues were tackled under the executive sessions and committee hearings.

“Already tackled under the executive sessions and the committee are very much encouraged to conduct so many committee hearings and invite the general public to appear and to provide more information that will add up and help us in our legislative measures,” said Pesquera.

Resulta

Garcia, during his term as presiding officer, has been guided with his “RESULTA” tagline in the formulation, adoption and approval of the proposed legislations.

RESULTA stands for:

R – Responsiveness or the passage of laws that respond to the needs of the public as well as the initiative of the local chief executive.

E – Education or the formulation of laws that facilitate more learning and scholarship opportunities for their constituents.

S – Settlement or the crafting of laws that provide for better opportunities for affordable and equitable housing.

U – Urban development or having laws that enable progress without sacrificing sustainability, the environment, and their shared identity as “Sugbuanong Dakbayanon”

L — is to legislate support for Livelihood programs that align the capacities of our labor force with the job market.

T – Traffic and Transportation management development or having laws that enable better mobility for people for products and for services

A – Advancing the plight of the marginalized sectors enabling further their access to services as well as encouraging their participation in governance. –/GAN (FREEMAN)