BEHIND THE SCENES

Still on Baguio council car plan
ALFRED P. DIZON

BAGUIO CITY – Constituents of this tourist city, recently tagged “Garbage city of the north” are saying the act of city councilors in overriding the veto of Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr. who denied the P19.6-million allocation for the controversial car plan ordinance was a face-saving measure.

For our non-Baguio readers, the expensive cars were allocated by the city council so they could go around barangays and inquire from people what they wanted the city government could do for them.

Last week, Bautista vetoed the car plan ordinance, saying the Dept. of Budget and Management might not approve of the plan. He said a car plan for individual city councilors could be considered irregular. Now some councilors area saying behind the scenes Bautista was anti-people for doing this.
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Basing from my limited knowledge, a car plan would entitle the “owner” to “own” the vehicle and have jurisdiction over it. So even if the councilors would be out from office in the next two years, (maybe, as a result of this controversy) the car would still be registered under their names.

This has happened in some if not most government agencies. Even roadworthy cars have been “condemned” as not fit for travel so these were often sold in rigged biddings. We are not saying this could happen in the city government but considering the proliferation of magicians and comedians at city hall, anything could be made to disappear in thin air.

You see, the past council also allotted expensive cell phones for themselves and included some department heads as beneficiaries as consuelo de bobo. The cell phones are nowhere to be found. Would the accounting, general services division or concerned department please make an accounting of the cell phones?
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If one of the cell phones could be found, maybe a councilor could donate it to me since my Jurassic phone which I treasure because of its readable letters is getting worn out. Sometimes, it peeves me that people laugh at it. But what the heck, I couldn’t do business without it. Besides, every time I forget and leave it at a table restaurant, the waiter always rushes to give it to me.

Anyway, back to the cars. Miffed residents are uttering expletives on the matter. Just tune in to AM radios in the city and you will have an idea on the depth of their annoyance especially when a councilor tries to justify the allotment like the money were not public funds.

Now, Councilor Erdolfo Balajadia, whom they designated as official spokesperson, is saying the council decided not to push through with the car plan as the public was against it. He told newsmen their decision to override was to make it clear that Bautista’s reason for vetoing ordinance 57-2007 was a “distortion of the facts” that led to the ordinance’s approval.
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Maybe, Balajadia was talking legalese, being a lawyer. But you see, the pundits at Chongloy’s Luisas Restaurant are talking behind the councilors’ backs. The way they talk about the issue, expletives included, could make one squirm inside one’s seat. It maybe the reason why I haven’t seen a city councilor inside Luisas, the undisputed media hangout, ever since the story broke out.

Following the brouhaha, some councilors proposed that the ordinance be repealed and funds realigned for mini-composting plants or other urgent projects of city. The proposal was referred to the committee on laws, headed by councilor Richard Carino and the city mayor said he was approving it.
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Around P19.6 million was originally allotted for the city officials’ car plans but was later on brought down to P18-million. The final version of ordinance 57 stated the 14 councilors and the vice mayor would be allotted P1 million each for their car plans, P3 million for the mayor and P5.6 million for barangay projects.

Councilors said the Local Government Code stipulates an ordinance that was overridden takes effect even without the mayor’s approval. Vice Mayor Daniel Farinas said due to the override, ordinance 57 remains valid and subsisting. But he added the Council may not proceed with the original plan since the local finance committee said that a car plan is not possible.

A 2/3 vote or 10 members of the city council is needed to override a veto. Only Councilor Betty Lourdes Tabanda voted against the override.
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Councilors Rufino Panagan and Leonardo Bayan Jr. abstained, councilor Antonio Tabora Jr. went out of the session hall when the nominal voting was taking place while councilors Nicasio Palaganas, Perlita Chan-Rondez, Galo Weygan, Isabelo Cosalan Jr., Fred Bagbagen, Elaine Sembrano, Rocky Thomas Balisong, Nicasio Aliping Jr., Carino and Balajadia voted for the override.

With the override, the ordinance would take effect 10 days after posting. With a magic wand, anything could happen after that. Gagayyem nga apo consehal, baka mabalin I post yo ditoy diyaryo tayo dayta ordinance tapno adda met mabingay tayo a. Inya metten daytoy nga bubwit ko aya, punasam man ta ngirsim. Makatitileng.
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I received a letter from the Publishers Association of the Philippines Inc. saying it would hold its 12th National Press Congress on Dec. 14-16 at the Clark Freeport Zone in Angeles City. The Clark Development Corp. has signified its intention to host the event.

The congress will focus on the theme "The Philippine Press: Unlocking Windows of Global Opportunities’’ to spotlight the media’s critical role in projecting the sprawling Clark Freeport Zone as the country’s showcase in investment, tourism and aviation promotion.

The convention also marks PAPI’s annual celebration of the "National Press Congress’’ and the "Month of the Community Press in the Service of the Nation’’ in line with Presidential Proclamation No. 1187.

PAPI president Juan P. Dayang said "By hosting this event, CDC has manifested its partnership with the media in helping solidify nation-building efforts that will further accelerate the country’s socio-economic development.’’ In issuing the proclamation, President Arroyo said: "There is a need to focus attention on the important role PAPI plays in upholding press freedom.’’

I guess absentee members like me would attend the event this time. Maybe, I’ll even see a councilor or two going to the casino. Not to worry, I won’t squeal. Casino is gaming, not gambling according to the PAGCOR and a little leftover from the pocket for a bet wouldn’t make one commit suicide.