Sangguniang Panlalawigan Now To Hold Joint Sessions With The SBs

Maasin City, Southern Leyte – An innovative change in the holding of a weekly Sangguniang Panlalawigan sessions is now in the process of implementation as agreed upon by SP members during their recent session held at the SP?s Session Hall at the Provincial Capitol here.

The breakaway from the traditional holding of a weekly SP sessions for several decades was spearheaded by SP Jason Calva, Chairman Committee on Finance and Appropriation, after he brought the idea also to some of the Municipal Mayors whom he has talked to about it last year.

Vice-Governor Miguel Maamo, 111, said that although he liked Calva?s idea, but the problem is, when it comes to decision-making, particularly on project?s approval, he is not in a position to approve any resolution.

He said the problem is in non-availability of the incumbent Governor Damian Mercado in every joint session that they have to conduct outside the Provincial Capitol for a certain municipality.

However, Calva said that the solution to that problem is to refer it to the august body for the resolution?s amendment on a deliberation of a proposed project during a joint session, which suits the flexibility of the Governor?s scheduled appointments.

Such an amendment that the Chair of Finance and Appropriation has proposed is that a joint session with the Sangguniang Bayan should be held either ?on the first Monday of every month or any Monday of every month? whenever the Governor is available at his office. Monday is the common day when the Governor is around, being the first day of the week, except for important appointment when he has to leave the office.

SP Albert Esclamado, a former Limasawa Mayor, suggested to his colleagues that it should be the august body that will make the schedule for a joint session and to furnish a copy to Governor Mercado. In this way he can adjust his other schedules and make himself available during a joint session, he said.

In case the Governor is not around to attend a particular joint session in other municipality, Esclamado said, most probably he can just agree and designate Vice-Governor Maamo in the granting of P100, 000.00 as the provincial government?s financial assistance for a certain municipality?s project/s. The aid, it was learned, also requires a counterparting of similar amount by the recipient municipality for the materialization of their proposed project/s.

Maamo who agreed to Esclamado?s suggestion, said that he will bring this matter to the Governor during their upcoming Executive ?Legislative meeting, which the former thought that the latter would also be amenable to the idea.

Calva further disclosed that the Sangguniang Panlalawigan has already conducted initial joint sessions last year with the 3 municipalities of Tomas Oppus, Anahawan and Silago. He said he has also toured to different municipalities of the province including San Francisco and Limasawa and has talked to the Mayors about his plan.

Here are the initial and tentative schedule for SP?s joint sessions with some of the municipalities; January-Bontoc (done); February-Hinundayan and San Ricardo; March-Macrohon and Limasawa; April-Hinunangan and Pintuyan; May-not decided yet; June-Padre Burgos.

Nevertheless, the schedule for the remaining months is still to be discussed by the SP members during their coming meeting.

On the other hand, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan has also approved the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to be entered into and between the Province of Southern Leyte and the Dept. of Agriculture thru Secretary Arthur Yap regarding the P10M for farms inputs and farm-to-market road projects of the Province of Southern Leyte.

The august body has granted the authorization to Governor Mercado to sign the MOA for and in behalf of the province. The approval was moved by SP Agustin Esca?o, Jr., Chairman Committee on Agriculture and Tourism, and jointly seconded by Esclamado and Ex-officio member Nacional Verrano Mercado. (Quirico M. Gorpido, Jr.)

About the Contributor:

Mr. Quirico M. Gorpido Jr was an erstwhile Correspondent/Contributor to the following weeklies and dailies: Tacloban-based regional weekly a 33-year-old The Reporter for many years(now defunct), a Cebu-based weekly The Visayan Express(now defunct),Cebu-based daily The Freeman(1994-1998) now a sister publication of The Philippine Star, Maasin-based weekly The Southern Leyte Times for three years, Tacloban-based daily The Leyte Samar Daily Express(2000-2001), Cebu-based daily the Cebu Daily News(2002-2003), Tacloban-based weekly 7-year-old Tribune(2003-2007).