Wednesday, August 06, 2008 'Soca is weekly': Jaraula By Cong Corrales
"MY STATE of the city address is (held) every Monday," Mayor Constantino Jaraula said in answer to a demand from opposition councilors for him to do a local version of the President Gloria Mcalapgal-Arroyo's State of the Nation Address (Sona).
Just like Pres. Arroyo, chief executives like Mayor Jaraula should report the state of local governance so that the people may be informed of government policies and other issues that affect them, Councilor Teodulfo Lao said.
Citing the implementing rules and regulations of the Local Government Code, Councilors Zaldy Ocon and Roger Abaday chorused with Lao on the need for a regular State of City Address (Soca).
The three said it was incumbent upon the mayor to inform the public of his plans and achievements in office-while at the same time complying with the law.
But Jaraula failed to see why he should render a Soca when he has already been addressing the 3,000-strong city bureaucracy about the state of the city.
every Monday morning-right after the weekly flag ceremony.
"Kung gusto sila mahibalo, motunga sila," said Jaraula.
(If they want to know, then they should attend.)
Jaraula said by reporting the "state of the city" on a weekly basis, his administration could be "more transparent" to Cagayan de Oro residents. He sees the need to do it on a weekly basis because "the developments and opportunities in the city has been fast-paced lately."
Former Mayor Vicente Emano, Jaraula's predecessor, has not rendered a Soca in his nine years as mayor of the city. He now serves as vice mayor, but has only presided the session only once.
