Plebiscite on proposed barangay hearing conducted

THE City Council committee on laws, ordinances and good government conducted on Thursday another round of the public hearing on the petition by Pagla-um village residents for a plebiscite necessary to the creation of Paglaum as the new barangay of Bacolod City.

Councilor Caesar Z. Distrito, chairman of the committee, presided over the public hearing with Councilors Mona Dia Jardin and El Cid Familiaran.

The hearing was attended by the residents and convenors’ group from Paglaum Village headed by lawyer Gemino Ymballa, Mansilingan village chief Leonardo Suansing and other barangay officials, including councilman Paul Catalan who opposed the petition; lawyer Ainee Tañeza from the Commission on Elections (Comelec)-Bacolod, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) City Director Eliseo Orendez, Josephine Segundino from Bacolod Housing Authority, former councilor Alex Paglumotan, representatives from City Planning and Development Office, National Statistics Office and City Mayor’s Office.

Distrito cited the opinion letter of DILG Regional Director Evelyn Trompeta that City Ordinance 37, Series of 1987, which created Barangay Paglaum, is valid and existing. The City Legal Office also agreed with the DILG opinion.

Distrito said the ordinance is valid but it requires further action by setting the date of the plebiscite, identification of boundaries and allocation of the funds.

If the plebiscite will push through, Distrito asked the Comelec for the date when it will be conducted, who will set such date and how much will be the budget that should be appropriated for the plebiscite.

Tañeza said she is not aware who will set the date and unsure how much should be allocated for the plebiscite but she cited a Comelec resolution that the deputy executive director shall be the one who will prepare the budget estimates and that the budget is supposed to depend on the population of the two affected barangays, which are Mansilingan and Vista Alegre.

Ymballa said they are just asking the council to implement the plebiscite and they will honor whatever is the outcome of it.

Catalan of Mansilingan said the implementation of the ordinance will only create disunity in Barangay Mansilingan.

The barangay council of Mansilingan presented during the hearing its proposed resolution requesting the City Council to request Mayor Evelio Leonardia to appropriate funds for the conduct of a plebiscite.

“I have consulted different agencies and offices to render their opinions and statements as to the implementation of this city ordinance, and gladly all of them responded and really contributed in giving us substantial information in clearing things out,” Distrito said.

“Whatever is the outcome of our discussion in this public hearing will still depend on the decision of the entire Sangguniang Panlungsod (City Council),” he added.

Distrito said that a committee conference will be held within this month inviting the parties concerned to discuss among them together with the other members of the committee the formulation of the implementing ordinances on setting the date and allocating funds for the plebiscite. (Carla N. Canet)