ILOILO City – Of the 27 committees in the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP), nine councilors allied with Mayor Jerry Treñas agreed to divide among themselves 23, according to sources.
As of this writing, four committees remain without chairmen. Will four councilors identified with former mayor Jose Espinosa III get them?
Councilor Jay Treñas, the mayor’s nephew, confirmed their group had an initial meeting about committee chairmanships. He, however, clarified there could still be changes in what they had initially agreed among themselves.
The chairmanships would likely be finalized during the SP’s session on July 9, Treñas told Panay News.
As leaked to the press yesterday, the nine councilors agreed to head the following committees:
* Rudolf Ganzon – Tourism, Culture and Historical Affairs; Trade, Commerce and Industry; and Domestic and International Relations
* Carlos Javellana – Games, Amusement and Professional Sports and Police, Fire, Penology, Public Safety, Order and Security, Dangerous Drugs and Rehabilitation,
* Jay Treñas – Appropriations; Urban Planning, Housing and Land Development, Zoning, Expropriation, Assessment and Land Acquisition; and Urban Poor, Human Rights and Minority Groups
* Julie Grace Baronda – Education, Science and Technology; Social Services and Disaster Relief; and Information Technology and Computerization
* Allan Zaldivar – Health, Sanitation and Hospital Services; Labor, Employment, Manpower Development and Placement; and Cooperative and Livelihood
* Rommel Duron – Rules, Ordinances, Resolutions, Style, Justice and Legal Affairs; Transportation, Energy and Public Utilities; and Good Government and Public Accountability (Blue Ribbon Committee)
* Ely Estante – Engineering, Construction and Public Works; Public Services, Environmental Protection and Ecology; and Market and Slaughterhouse
* Ma. Irene Ong – Ways and Means; Barangay Affairs and Community Development; and Veterans, Retirees, Elderly and Disabled Persons
* Leila Luntao – Youth and Sports Development
As of this writing, councilors Candice Magdalene Tupas, Eduardo Peñaredondo, Mandrie Malabor, and Lyndon Acap remain without committees to head.
The committees still without chairmen are Agriculture, Fisheries, Aquatic and Natural Resources; Moral Recovery; Communication and Public Information; and Women and Family Relation.
Treñas said he believed the four councilors would have committees to head.
His group also agreed to designate Duron, a lawyer, as majority floor leader.
Duron told Panay News their legislative agenda would be anchored on Treñas’ “WHEELS” program – welfare, health and sanitation, education, environment, livelihood and sustainability.
Meanwhile, Tupas said with or without committees to head, she would continue to work out proposed ordinances beneficial to city residents.
Among the ordinances Tupas, a medical doctor by profession, had authored in the previous SP included one which required barangays to establish dengue task forces; an ordinance providing homecare services to indigent persons with disabilities and senior citizens; an ordinance establishing the Tourism Trust Fund to ensure additional budget to the City Tourism and Development Office so it could effectively implement all its proposed projects as stated in the Tourism Development Plan 2016-2022; and an ordinance institutionalizing Friday as Adolescent Day in all health centers in the metropolis to address concerns of the youth such as but not limited to teenage pregnancy, illegal drugs, health and sexual problems.
“Bal-an n’yo naman wala lang ko gakopya-kopya ordinansa. I authored them myself. I’ve made benchmark ordinances nga sa bilog nga Pilipinas wala pa,” said Tupas.
During the oath-taking on June 28, Tupas said she was glad to hear about a proposed city government hospital.
“I have always advocated for that. I’m really happy they taken note of the importance of health services diri,” said Tupas.
For his part, Peñaredondo – the most senior of the city councilors – said had no complaint not having a committee to head. He said he would be taking things slowly and complete his third consecutive three-year term then retire from public office.
“’But I support the administration of Mayor Treñas for the good of the city,” said Peñaredondo.
Malabor and Acap could not be reached for comment as of this writing./PN
