BACOLOD City — Councilor Wilson Gamboa Jr. has apologized to members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) for holding a meeting with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and transport groups of unconsolidated public utility jeepneys (PUJs) without coordinating with the committee chair concerned.
The meeting, held on August 14 at the office of Vice Mayor Claudio Jesus Puentevella, was not coordinated with Councilor Dindo Ramos, chairperson of the SP committee on transportation.
Gamboa, who serves as vice-chairperson of the same committee, admitted during the August 15 regular session that he acted on his own initiative.
“It was just a misunderstanding between me and the chairman of the committee. I submit myself to asking an apology,” He told the council.
He explained that the meeting was not part of the SP’s official agenda: “Kay waay ko gin pa-agenda, waay ko gin pa-docket, kag wala ko man ginpasulod sa correspondence, because it was an unofficial initiative — it was a personal invitation.”
The councilor said he invited the LTFRB and transport groups to address concerns over Memorandum Circular No. 2025-021, which outlines the Land Transportation Office’s (LTO) plan to apprehend unconsolidated PUJs.
According to the councilor, the transport groups had sought his help for an audience with the LTFRB, warning they might stage a transport strike once the LTO begins its operations.
“This was a personal initiative on my part to address the concerns of the transport sector. It was not intentional to encroach on the power and authority of the chairman,” Gamboa clarified.
However, Councilor Jude Thaddeus Sayson pointed out that Gamboa’s action violated the council’s internal rules, which state that the committee chairperson is responsible for handling issues under their jurisdiction.
“If the committee chair does not take up the matter, it should be presented to the body, and the majority will decide whether to refer it back to the chair or to another member of the council,” Sayson said./PN
