ILOILO — A routine session of the Iloilo Provincial Board turned tense on Tuesday afternoon.
Vice Gov. Nathalie Ann Debuque, the presiding officer, and 2nd District Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) member June Mondejar clashed over the latter’s call to amend a committee report related to the Road Slope Protection (Site 3) project in Barangay Manasa, Alimodian, which was alleged to be among projects funded under the P100-billion budget insertions for 2025.
Earlier in the SP session, Committee on Infrastructure chairperson Roland Distura presented the committee report on the project.
Mondejar, a committee member, moved to amend the report to include two proposed resolutions urging the 4th District Engineering Office of the Department of Public Works and Highways to strictly follow contract drawing specifications and ensure that the remaining scope of work complies with those specifications.
Debuque suggested that the proposals be moved to the unassigned business portion of the session to allow urgent matters to be addressed first. Mondejar, however, insisted that the body immediately vote on whether to amend the committee report or tackle the resolutions later, prolonging the exchange and prompting Debuque to call for a recess.
“We should have divided the house for who are those in favor that my proposed resolution may be taken this time or be undertaken during the unassigned business,” Mondejar said during the recess.
Debuque initially responded calmly, telling Mondejar: “Board June, pungko, malamig ang session hall ta. Palamig-lamig ka anay. Pungko na, Board June. We are just sa committee report, may urgent measures pa kita, damo ginapangayo ang aton nga gobernador, may ara kita department heads waiting for concurrence. Ang gusto ko lang matawhay kita, maobra ta ang tanan ta nga obligasyon,” adding that it was within her power to manage the session.
She then directed Majority Floor Leader Rolex Suplico to proceed with the agenda, but Mondejar continued to press for an immediate vote. This led Debuque to raise her voice, stressing that the committee report should proceed as presented and that amendments could be sponsored later during the unassigned business.
“Why insist now, now, now when we can do it later sa unassigned business?” Debuque said in a louder voice before ordering Mondejar to sit down.
“You are out of order. Sit down! Sit down,” she stressed.
She added: “We are not saying we are adverse to amendments. what we are saying is we have to protect due process, to ensure transparency. Indi pwede nga mapa-amend ka or padugang ka sang resolution nga waay gin-discuss sa committee hearing,” Debuque said.
Mondejar eventually agreed, thereby allowing the regular session to resume. By the end of the meeting, which adjourned past 6 p.m., the two proposed resolutions were not passed after Mondejar opted not to pursue them during the unassigned business./PN
