Tumulak to push for council revamp

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Councilor David Tumulak is pushing for the reorganization of the City Council next week following a failed attempt Wednesday.

“I will deliver a privilege speech for reorganization next week as I find it beneficial not for us legislators but for our constituents especially on the passage of our 2015 Annual Budget and other projects,” Tumulak said.

 Tumulak said he will initiate the move for reorganization of the committee chairmanships to allow other members of the council to choose the “right” committee.

He claimed that the snail-paced approval of projects and programs of the administration is what prompted him to push for reorganization. For transparency, he admitted that the session on Wednesday was adjourned primarily due to the reorganization plan and not because of “procedural matters” as claimed by Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella.

 “No. It’s not about procedural matters but about the plan for reorganization. Nakabalo ang BOPK (Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan) about it, hinungdan sa adjournment dayon urgent caucus meeting.” he said.

His purpose for revealing it is allegedly to put the truth ahead of politics. “Di ko ganahan ilang taguon ang tinuod nga rason. Ngano naa sila’y gitagoan ug gihahadlokan?” Tumulak asked.

“They don’t have to be afraid if wala sila’y committee. Take it from me, wala ko’y chairmanship but it did not hinder me from providing services to our constituents. Please stop politicking,” he added.

 In a separate interview,  Labella said he wanted all the councilors to have an open discussion Tuesday next week to settle and iron out things.

 “It’s not healthy to discuss matters ahead on what they (council) wanted. As a presiding officer and as a vice mayor, I just have to abide by what the majority decides on the issue. If the majority wishes for reorganization who am I to prevent them,” Labella said. 

 He said reorganization is allowed under Article 2 of the City Council’s house rules.

 “It’s in the house rules that from time to time, as the circumstances would warrant, a committee membership and chairmanship can be changed by a majority vote of all the members,” he said.

 “The councilors have to serve above their selves, abide by your oath of office, do what is best for the city and its constituents as we are all elected by the people and we awe them our positions,” he added.  (FREEMAN)