DESPITE the call of Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan for councilors to hold their sessions via Zoom, the City Council conducted a face-to-face session on August 26, 2021.
Since the session hall underwent disinfection due to the rising number of Covid-19 cases, the session was held at the function hall of the Marina Seaview in Barangay Ibo.
Councilor Rico Amores, who served as presiding officer due to the absence of Vice Mayor Celsi Sitoy, explained that it is part of the council’s internal rules that they hold a face-to-face session every Thursday and not an online session.
The councilors, however, are given the option to attend the session via Zoom. This was contained in a letter by Sitoy which was sent to the council. Most of the councilors, however, opted to attend the face-to-face session.
During the session, Flaviano “Bobit” Hiyas filed a resolution that in case the session hall would still be unavailable this week, they would hold the session in the same venue they used on August 26.
Aside from Amores and Hiyas, present during the session were Councilors Gregorio Paquibot, Rudy Potot, Michael Dignos, Rex Mangubat, Junrey Gestopa and Eduardo Cuizon, Association of Barangay Council ABC President.
Unable to attend were Councilors Janvi Dela Serna, Nelson Yap, Efren Herrera, Queennie Malingin Amman and SK Federation President Laika Tampus.
“Duna gihapon ta’y quorom unya ug dili mi mopadayon sa session basin ma-filan ug dereliction of duty,” Amores said.
Among the resolutions passed called for Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Roy Cimatu to give area clearance to the 400-hectare Mactan North Reclamation Project in Barangay Ibo.
The project, which was approved in 2015 during the term of former mayor Paz Radaza, was not given an area clearance due to a case in court between the project’s contractors.
“That’s one of the requirements to proceed with the work and that is very important. There is a case between the two previous contractors and one of the requirements to proceed is the dismissal of the case, which was dismissed by the Makati court already,” Amores said. (GCM)