Friday, July 27, 2007 Gwen non-allies join PDC meeting
OPPOSITION officials not visible in her previous term’s Provincial Development Council (PDC) meetings attended the gathering called by Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia yesterday morning.
Later in the afternoon, Cebu’s mayors voted for Dumanjug Mayor Cesar “Sarsi” Baricuatro as president of the League of Municipalities (LMP) Cebu Chapter, despite his absence during the elections.
Outside the Capitol Social Hall, however, talks were raised after the polls that the results were invalid because the election was not presided over by outgoing president Ronald Allan Cesante and Baricuatro was elected in his absence.
But a mayor, who asked not to be named, said in an interview that since nobody objected to the process, the results of the elections “were in effect.”
No objection
“The guidelines provide that nominees should be present during the elections but since nobody objected during the meeting when we agreed in principle, then the election was in effect,” the source told Sun.Star Cebu.
Days before the election, however, Baricuatro expressed willingness to lead the group if Balamban’s Alex Binghay declines, the source said.
Binghay, who is still in the United States, reportedly declined.
The list of new officers was submitted to LMP secretary general Herardo Calderon, who attended the activity.
Earlier in the same venue yesterday, Gov. Garcia called the first PDC meeting of her second term.
Among those present were Pinamungajan Mayor Gera-ldine Yapha, Toledo City Mayor Arlene Zambo, Tuburan Mayor Constancio Suezo, Medellin Mayor Ricardo Rami-rez with Vice Mayor Michael Miranda, Bogo Vice Mayor Santiago Sevilla and Tabuelan Mayor Casiano Gerona.
At the meeting, Garcia called on all mayors to set aside political bickering, unite for the progress of Cebu, and to deliver their promises to their constituents.
She assured officials that projects will be distributed in accordance to what is needed and what the people require.
During the discussion, the body endorsed on mass motion the proposed multi-million transaxial development project.
This means that the project will be forwarded to the Regional Development Council.
Once approved at the RDC level, the Cebu Provincial Government will start bidding out the project to invite investors that will undertake the project on a Build-Operate-Transfer scheme.
In the league elections, 37 out of 54 mayors in Cebu met and agreed “in principle” as to who their new leaders will be.
Elected as vice presidents are Cordova Mayor Adelino Sitoy (external affairs); Liloan Mayor Duke Frasco (internal affairs) and Boljoon Mayor Deogenes Derama (special concerns).
Aloguinsan Mayor Cynthia Moreno was voted as secretary; Santander Mayor Wilson Wenceslao as treasurer; Bantayan Mayor Geralyn Escario as auditor and Minglanilla Mayor Eddie Selma as public relations officer.
The mayors also voted members of the board with representative from each of the six districts.
They are San Fernan-do’s Lakambini Reluya (1st district), Alcoy’s Nicome-des de los Santos (2nd district), Asturias’ Allan Adlawan (3rd district), Daanbantayan’s Sun Shimura (4th district), Poro’s Edgar Rama (5th district) and Consolacion’s Avelino Gungob (6th district).
As to Cesante’s absence during the elections, Samboan Mayor Raymond Calderon explained that Cesante could no longer call for a meeting as he is now a vice mayor.
It must be Binghay, the league’s vice president, who should preside over the meeting.
However, Binghay is in the US so the third highest officer, Moreno who is the incumbent secretary, presided over the meeting. (MBG)
