COUNCILOR VS COUNCILOR Another hearing for city’s Charter Day not needed – Distrito

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BY MAE SINGUAY
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Monday, November 13, 2017
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BACOLOD City – “There is no need for another hearing.”

Councilor Caesar Distrito criticized Councilor Wilson Gamboa for his plan to hold another public hearing on House Bill No. 5875, which seeks to declare June 18 of every year as the Bacolod City Charter Day and make it a special nonworking public holiday in the city.

The bill – authored by Rep. Greg Gasataya – is pending for approval at the House of Representatives.

“The conduct of the hearing is not in accordance with the internal rules of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP), which states that a committee may constitute one or more persons appointed, designated or elected by the SP to consider, investigate or take action on an assigned subject or matter,” Distrito said in a statement yesterday.

Gamboa – chairman of the SP committee on history, culture and arts – conducted a hearing on Nov. 9 and said he plans to hold another one.

Historian and columnist Modesto Sa-onoy and other members of a historical council in the city attended the Nov. 9 public hearing, which Gamboa described as “very enlightening and informative.”

However, Distrito said Gamboa has no authority from the SP to conduct another hearing since it was “never referred” to the committees that he chairs.

Distrito added that the conduct of another public hearing was not included in the SP’s calendar of agenda.

He further said “there is no pending legislation that requires committee action” on the matter.

“He (Gamboa) is not the congressman who filed it (house bill) in Congress. He has no reason to call a hearing for the proposal,” Distrito said.

The SP recently passed a resolution fully supporting the house bill, added Distrito. But Gamboa was not able to vote for its approval because he was out of the session hall.

“If he was absent or went out of the session hall when the subject matter was discussed, then it’s his problem, not by the SP,” stressed Distrito.

Distrito also reiterated that the SP has already passed an ordinance declaring June 18 as the city’ Charter Day.

“So what will be his intended action on that? The committee cannot reverse the action of the SP but the SP can reverse the action of the committee,” he said.

For his part, Gamboa said there was nothing stated in the SP internal rules that prohibit him to conduct a public hearing.

Diretso sang isa ka konsehal nga magpatawag sang public hearing,” Gamboa said.

Councilors Cindy Rojas and Em Ang shared the same sentiment with Distrito./PN
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