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Thursday, December 23, 2004
Michael, Joy tangle over old City Hall bldg. repairs
By Gingging A. Campaña
Sun.Star Staff Reporter
It started with an appeal to help Councilor Nestor Archival carry out one of the City Council’s long overdue legislative agenda: renovating the old Cebu City Hall building.
But the council’s last session this year almost ended with a quarrel yesterday morning between Vice Mayor Michael Rama and Councilor Jocelyn Pesquera, with Rama this time defending Archival’s proposed measure.
Archival wanted the University of San Carlos (USC) to prepare the architectural studies and the plan to build another floor on top of the eighth floor of the City Hall annex.
This will be used as temporary offices for those departments that will be affected when the old building will be renovated. This is an alternative to renting private offices outside City Hall.
Archival sought his colleagues’ approval to authorize Mayor Tomas Osmeña to sign an agreement with USC, through Rev. Fr. Roderick Salazar, university president.
He wanted to have the P5.49 million budget that the mayor approved for the rentals realigned and use P244,200 of this as financial assistance to USC.
Too much
But Pesquera, who heads the committee on budget and finance, said the P244,200 was “too much” and that the P5.49 million intended for rentals could not be used as financial assistance.
Besides, she said, there was no appropriation passed covering the P5.49 million.
She also explained that the City cannot just enter into another contract with USC, unless the university completes the previous P2.11-million technical studies for the renovation of the legislative building.
Instead, she suggested that WT Construction, which built the annex building and is still working with the City, should work on the studies of the extension floor.
Councilor Edgardo Labella, for his part, pointed out that three clauses of the proposed agreement stated that USC is a non-profit people’s organization, but he could not find the relevance of its being an NGO to the contract.
He, however, said he has no objection to the project.
Walk the talk
Rama appealed anew to the councilors, who, except for Pesquera and Archival, began bowing or shaking their heads in silence, to help Archival in pushing for the council’s flagship projects.
Last Nov. 27, 2002, the vice mayor promised to prioritize in 2003 the completion of the codification project and the renovation of the City Hall main building.
Rama had said that the 9th City Council hoped that both projects will make their term “more memorable.”
“We will be walking our talk,” he had said.
Of the two projects, only the plan to renovate the old City Hall main building, which is now called the Cebu City Hall Legislative Building, is moving.
In yesterday’s last session for 2004, Rama lamented the absence of the other councilors during the meeting on the renovation and transfer last Friday.
“Please help Member Archival in expediting the transfer. Let’s not just talk and talk. We have been planning this since 2001. Those who don’t want to have this implemented, please come out openly. Just think about it,” Rama said.
Argument
“We are not forcing the issue. We just want your help. There are a lot of programs you should be doing. The codification (of ordinances), I hope it’s moving,” he added.
Both Councilors Gabriel Leyson and Pesquera felt alluded to by Rama’s statement.
“I was not asked Mr. Chairman,” Leyson said, then turned to Archival, “You should ask already for approval.”
“I find your statement very sweeping, Mr. Chairman, when you said that we were not doing anything to help. I lobbied for the P65-million budget for the renovation under the Annual Investment Plan (for 2004). And the meeting last Friday was so ora mismo, we had the general Christmas party remember? And now you’re telling me that I’m not helping. It’s so unfair, Mr. Chairman. Just for one meeting?” Pesquera said.
“This is not Honorable Archival’s project. This is the project of the council,” Rama said.
“That’s why I’m presenting my comments. If there’s no budget we can have this in the next agenda,” Pesquera answered.
Solutions!
“What is the solution? Forget about the project? Don’t keep on thinking about asking questions! Think about the solutions!” an irked Rama raised his voice.
Archival asked where Pesquera got the information that the P244,200 budget is too much. He said the City can just get the financial assistance from the P5-million budget for rentals.
Pesquera interrupted, “Rental? Gamiton ang rental para financial assistance? Pwede diay na?
(You want to use the rental for financial aid? Is that even allowed?)”
“Are you mad? Tell, me are you mad?” Rama shouted.
Pesquera did not answer.
“Recess!” Rama said as he banged the gavel loudly, shocking other councilors and observers at the gallery.
Rama then stood and stared at Pesquera, then scolded all councilors as he went out of the session hall.
‘Not helping’
“Think you’re helping? You’re not helping. Sige mo panghatag sa lain. Approve ug financial assistance nga milyon-milyon unya kana nga gamay ra daghang pangutana. (You keep giving away millions, yet you ask so many questions about this.) That’s our project,” he said.
The vice mayor came back after three minutes and approached Pesquera, who was arguing with Archival.
“Ikaw ma’y mag-una-una Mike ug istorya nga wala mi motabang (You were the first one, Mike, to say we didn’t help),” Pesquera confronted Rama.
Rama went back to his seat and began talking.
“Move for adjournment, Mr. Chairman,” Pesquera said.
“I have not resumed yet,” Rama answered.
The matter was settled only when Archival decided to withdraw his resolution and declared that he will ask the mayor to get the P244,200 budget from the approved P10-million assistance to the nongovernment organizations under the local development fund for 2005.
As to the proposed P5-million rentals, this will be taken from the first supplemental budget, which will be submitted for approval in January.
The session ended with Labella clapping his hands, and saying, “It’s Christmas! It’s Christmas.”
(December 23, 2004 issue)
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