CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella said he will reecho to all mayors under the League of the Cities of the Philippines (LCP) the pronouncements of President Rodrigo Duterte during his fourth State of the Nation Address.
Labella, chairman of the LCP, expressed his support to Duterte’s proposal to postpone the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections, as well as on the easement of permit processing, reclamation of public roads to ease traffic, and restoration of death penalty to include plunderers, among others.
“The President underscores the need to fight against criminality and corruption in government and the fight against illegal drugs. The most important thing that he addressed to the local government unit is the need to ease of doing business. We concur in toto with the President’s thrust in that regard,” the mayor said.
Labella said the LCP will conduct a strategic planning in September in Davao City, which could be an avenue to discuss the policy direction of Duterte.
Composed of at least 145 mayors, the LCP seeks to promote the welfare of their cities with a vision of “A Leading, Committed, and Proactive Local Government League in the Philippines.”
Aside from policy planning, Labella said the LCP will also discuss possible proposal to amend provisions in the Local Government Code, such as the sharing of Internal Revenue Allotment to local government units and the local development fund.
“In my particular case, I would like to see some amendments of the quasi-judicial functions of the Sangguniang Panlungsod,” he said.
Labella said members of LCP will meet Duterte this month to discuss pressing issues, among other matters.
In his SONA last Monday, Duterte asked the Congress to study the postponement of the Barangay and SK elections from May 2020 to October 2022.
“Because if you read it, this…to rectify the truncated terms. Paiba-iba na eh. The truncated terms of sitting barangays but also provide them with the ample time to finish their programs and projects. I suggest Congress should also enact the Magna Carta for Barangays,” the President said.
Labella agreed with Duterte, saying the newly-elected officials in the last May 2019 elections have to work with the barangay officials on projects and programs for their respective constituents.
As to the order of Duterte to reclaim the public roads, Labella said the city government is already doing it as seen in the clearing of M.L. Quezon which was previously occupied by the vendors at Carbon Public Market.
On the processing of permits, Labella said the Office of the Building Official is already implementing an integrated system that fast-tracks the processing of building permits.
Duterte, in his SONA, ordered the mayors to implement three-day processing of permits.
If all requirements are complied with, Labella said there’s no need to delay the release of the permits to the applicants.
Rama present at SONA
Meanwhile, Vice Mayor Michael Rama, who was also present during Duterte’s SONA, expressed support on the fight against criminality, corruption, illegal drug trade, and the postponement of the barangay and SK elections.
Rama also said he admired the “sincerity and determination” of Duterte to finish his six-year term.
“Another thing that I was observing that he was in a fighting mood…it defies all worries about health,” the vice mayor said.
Rama said he was invited by House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano to attend the SONA of the President at the Batasang Pambansa Complex. — JMD (FREEMAN)