Butuan city council releases records of attendance in sessions and most tardy

By Ben Serrano,
Correspondent

BUTUAN City — For the sake of transparency and accountability, this city released the official records of absences, attendance, and their excuses on attending sessions due on official business among outgoing members of the 13th Sangguniang Panglungsod.

“Because of salary standardization the reason why there is an increase of monthly salaries for our councilors, from P63,000 per month the present councilors are receiving, the yearly increase of their salaries were gradual from this year 2016 which is P73,937 to P74,849 in 2017 and P75, 776 by year 2018,” said SP Secretary Caballes.

Caballes also said that aside from increase in monthly salary of city councilors that took effect January 1, 2016 there is also increase of Representation and Travelling Allowances (Rata) from P17,000 monthly to P19,000 that also started Jan. 1.

Caballes reported that only two city councilors have perfect attendance from years 2013 up to Dec. 31, 2015. The are Serge Pascual and Dr. Virgilio Nery.

Caballes said that based on records in 2013 alone which has total number of 24 regular sessions from July 1 to December 31, 2013; City Councilor Rauzil Carampatana has most number of absences with a total number of 16 absences and only eight  times present.

He is followed by Ramon Carampatana with five absences, followed by Derrick Plaza with four absences, Nestor Amora, two absences and the only lady at the Butuan City Council, Rema Burdeos with one absent.

In 2015 with recorded 53 regular and special sessions; City Councilors with most number of absences were Erwin Dano, Sam Amante, Derrick Plaza with 3 absences a each; followed by Ferdinand Nalcot, Sam Amante, Culima and Carampatana with two absences each.

With most numbers of OBs or on official business in year 2015, were Atty. Jaime Cembrano with eight OBs; Ryan Anthony Culima, seven OBs; and Ramon Carampatana, four OBs.