ILOILO City – A move by the majority bloc in the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) to scrap a provision in their Internal Rules of Procedure (IRP) institutionalizing weekly pre-session meetings has sparked concerns over transparency and perceived attempts to limit the role of Vice Mayor Lady Julie Grace Baronda.
The deletion of the pre-session clause from the IRP was pushed by Majority Floor Leader Rex Marcus Sarabia, who argued that such meetings — typically held before regular sessions — should not be made to feel mandatory.
“The majority felt constrained by it,” Sarabia said. “Not every week requires a pre-session. If the items aren’t contentious, it may just be an added layer.
So instead of having it explicitly stated, Sarabia said, “We prefer to attend pre-sessions informally if the Vice Mayor calls for one.”
The majority’s decision did not sit well with Vice Mayor Baronda, who temporarily vacated her role as presiding officer to voice her objections during the deliberations. She was replaced on the dais by Councilor Sedfrey Cabaluna for the duration of the debate.
“Yes, we discussed pre-sessions, and they told me it would be optional. So I was surprised when the provision was removed on the floor,” Baronda said. “They even mentioned we had 90 days to amend or drop provisions. Why rush it?”
Sarabia clarified that the removal was not a slight against Baronda’s office.
“It’s not about diminishing her power. The IRP still adheres to basic parliamentary procedure. The majority just wants to avoid any situation where non-attendance at pre-session could be construed as a violation of the rules,” he explained.
However, Baronda remained critical of how the process unfolded, particularly the timing of the changes.
“The final draft was only sent to my office at 5 p.m. on Monday. I didn’t have time to fully review it,” she said.
Asked whether she believed the move was meant to weaken her authority as presiding officer, Baronda responded, “In a way, yes. But I’m open-minded. If they don’t want to attend pre-sessions, that’s fine with me.”
“I only wanted to make sure our sessions run in a more organized and prepared manner, especially when there are sensitive or complicated agenda items,” she explained.
Despite the rule change, Baronda stressed that she still reserves the prerogative to call pre sessions when needed.
“Although it’s no longer in the rules, they said I could still call for one if needed. We’ve also agreed that if there’s nothing important, then we can skip it,” she said.
The revised IRP, minus the pre-session provision, is expected to be formally adopted in the next regular session.
Also at yesterday’s SP session, the City Council finalized its internal reorganization by assigning all 32 committee chairmanships exclusively to members of the majority bloc — leaving Baronda’s lone opposition ally Councilor Sheen Marie Mabilog entirely excluded from leading any committee.
The move sidelines Mabilog from steering legislative discussions despite her expressed interest in chairing key committees aligned with her advocacy and experience.
She had earlier sought to head either the Committee on Education or the Committee on Labor and Employment, citing her background at the Public Employment Services Office (PESO) and her longstanding commitment to youth development.
The chairmanship of the Committee on Education went to Councilor Rudolph Jeffrey Ganzon, while the Labor and Employment post was given to Councilor Alan Zaldivar — who was also assigned the Health and Cooperatives committees.
Heavyweight assignments went to Councilor Sarabia, who will helm three powerful bodies: the Committee on Appropriations, Rules and Ordinances, and the Blue Ribbon Committee on Public Accountability.
Councilor Cabaluna likewise secured three key chairmanships: Police and Public Safety, Transportation, and Public Information.
Other major committee appointments include:
* Councilor Jose Maria Miguel Treñas – Urban Planning, Tourism, and Local Accreditation
* Councilor Maria Irene Ong – Ways and Means, and Barangay Affairs
* Councilor Frances Grace Parcon-Torres – Women and Family Relations, and Agriculture
* Councilor Johnny Young – Engineering, Disaster Management, and Animal Welfare
Once ratified, the committee assignments will govern deliberations over crucial matters such as budget allocations, social services, and local infrastructure for the remainder of the council’s term./PN
