IN welcoming the administration bloc’s move to allocate committee chairmanships to the minority bloc, Vice Mayor Jocelyn Rodriguez said each councilor is obligated to work harder and be ‘more accountable’ to the people of Cagayan de Oro.
“(This development will have) a positive effect. Before, each administration councilor chaired at least three committees. I mean how can you perform, how can you give a schedule for the problems that you need to address? So now that each councilor has a committee to chair, they can focus on their work and there won’t be any delays (in resolving the problems they need to address),” the vice mayor said during the ‘Inyong Konseho Karon’ program hosted by the City Information Office.
Vice Mayor Rodriguez referred to the redistribution of committee chairmanships that occurred in last Monday’s regular session of the 20th City Council. Among the recipients of committee chairmanships was Councilor James Judith II, now chairman of the council’s arbitration committee.
The arbitration committee was formerly chaired by fellow minority bloc Councilor Yevonna Emano.
Another newbie legislator, Councilor Malvern Esparcia took over as chairman of the climate change committee from administration Councilor John Michael Seno.
The redistribution of committee chairmanships came a week after a change in council posts that saw Councilor Edgar Cabanlas assuming the council’s majority post from Councilor Ian Mark Nacaya.
During the same program also telecast on a local radio station, Vice Mayor Rodriguez confirmed that Councilor Joyleen ‘Girlie’ Balaba assumed the assistant majority floor leader post. Councilor Romeo Calizo is council pro tempore while Councilor Judith is the minority floor leader, she said.
Other committee chairmanship changes include Councilor Yan Alam Lim now chairing the economic enterprises committee formerly chaired by Nacaya.
Councilor Nacaya still retained the chairmanship of the planning and development committee.
In a radio interview, Councilor George Goking disclosed that aside from Judith and Esparcia, other minority bloc councilors that received committee chairmanships include Atty Jose Pepe Abbu Jr who now chairs the labor and employment committee formerly headed by Councilor Balaba.
Councilor Emano now chairs the Seniors Citizens Committee formerly headed by Councilor Roger Abaday while Councilor Christian Achas heads the Agriculture, fisheries, and cultural communities committee formerly chaired by Councilor Jay Roa Pascual. Councilor Agapito Suan took over as chairman of the committee on public utilities, energy, and public transport from Councilor Calizo.
Councilor Cabanlas also took over the chairmanship of the laws and rules committee from Councilor Nacaya. Aside from scheduling the committee meetings, the laws and rules committee also sets the council’s agenda for their weekly sessions every Monday afternoon.
Last year, the minority bloc raised the issue of committee chairmanships saying they should receive their fair share of responsibilities in the council.
“The administration bloc has the power to decide who will get the committee chairmanships (and that’s how it is),” Vice Mayor Rodriguez said.
For now, she said the minority bloc share Mayor Rolando ‘Klarex’ Uy’s priorities, including rejuvenating the city’s economy.
“We in the minority bloc share Mayor Klarex’s priorities including the task of rejuvenating the city’s economy. We all know how our economy suffered from the (closures brought on by the) ongoing pandemic and we share Mayor Klarex’s (optimism) that more businesses and jobs are reopening. We want to sustain that momentum,” Vice Mayor Rodriguez said. (Stephen Capillas of City Information Office)
