|
Monday, April 25, 2005
Cebu fires back at Talisay
By RENE H. MARTEL
Sun.Star Staff Reporter
JOINING the fray, the Cebu City Council will send to the House of Representatives next week a resolution questioning the creation of the city of Talisay, which Cebu City is at odds with over the South Reclamation Project (SRP).
Mayor Tomas Osmeña and Rep. Eduardo Gullas (Cebu, 1st district) have been trading bitter words over Talisay City’s claim on the SRP.
But until recently, the Cebu City council has never taken part in the conflict.
Gullas was Talisay City’s first mayor when it became a chartered City by virtue of Republic Act (RA) 8979 on Dec. 30, 2000.
Councilor Augustus Pe Jr. said his proposed resolution, which will be discussed in this Wednesday’s regular session, is their “way of letting the people know” that Gullas employs “underhanded means” in getting what he wants.
“Bisan wala ka-meet sa requirements, iyang gimani-ubra nga mahimo gyung syudad ang Talisay. Bisan dili siya taga-Talisay, siya ang nahimong pirmirong mayor (Even if they did not meet requirements, he made sure Talisay became a city. And even if he is not from Talisay, he became the first mayor),” he said.
Councilor Jocelyn Pesquera, majority floor leader, said Talisay’s conversion into a city affected Cebu City’s Internal Revenue Allotment share.
Pe said that although Talisay might have complied with the income requirement, it did not fulfill either of the other two requirements, which is population (at least 150,000), and land area (at least 100 square kilometers). Talisay only has 38 square kilometers.
Pesquera said that in Talisay’s website (www.talisaycitycebu.gov.ph), its population is listed as only 148,110 as of the year 2000.
Cebu City councilors came up with the consensus in a meeting Wednesday last week and he was tasked to draft the resolution, Pe said.
In a telephone interview, Talisay City Mayor Socrates Fernandez said the issue is already “moot and academic” because Talisay’s conversion into a city was approved by Congress and ratified by the President.
“That is their prerogative and their satisfaction. Whatever their intention (for coming up with a resolution), it is up to them,” he said.
He refused to comment on the motive and timing of the proposed resolution, saying he did not want to prejudice anyone.
Talisay City Administrator Aurora Econg, in a separate interview, wondered why the Cebu City Council is raising the matter only now.
She said what the City Council is trying to question is the constitutionality, or unconstitutionality, of RA 8989, and Congress is no longer the proper venue.
Questioning Talisay’s cityhood is questioning the law that created it, which could only be heard in court, not Congress.
And, she added, such a move has at least four requisites: the existence of an actual case (a filed complaint); imminent danger or injury to the proper party (Cebu City); that the query should be raised “at the earliest possible time”; and that there is a need to decide the case.
She wondered why the Cebu City Council came up with the resolution only now, when both cities are embroiled in a conflict.
“Talisay as a city is already five years old. Why didn’t they question that before? But it’s their prerogative,” she said.
She added that if Talisay will be called by Congress to air its side, “We are more than willing to answer.”
(April 25, 2005 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
