Tuesday, July 31, 2007 Deleting provision in bill ‘not enough’
THE controversial bill of Rep. Nerissa-Soon Ruiz (Cebu, 6th district) that tends to return Lapu-Lapu City under the clout of the Province has been modified.
Rep. Nerissa-Soon Ruiz said she had stricken out the provision that allows Lapu-Lapu City to join in elections for provincial officials because she found it unfair for the city which has just gained a new status.
But Ruiz said she still filed the bill to make this a venue to discuss the peculiar situation in her district.
Section 2 of her modified bill - a copy of which was faxed to Sun.Star Cebu - says that residents of the proposed 7th district (Lapu-Lapu City and Cordova town) cannot join elections for officials of Cebu Province.
Untenable
This is a scenario that Department of Interior and Local Government 7 Director Pedro Noval Jr. and Cordova Mayor Adelino Sitoy find untenable in Congress because it does not concur with the Constitution and the provision of the Local Government Code.
Lapu-Lapu City officials are pleased with the modification.
Vice Mayor Mario Amores said it would be a waste of money and effort for Lapu-Lapu City if Ruiz pushes through with her original draft.
“It is the bone of contention in her bill the clause which mandates us to vote for and be voted upon. By that provision we are brought back under the Province, which is very unfair,” he said.
He said she had a talk with Ruiz on the issue and the latter assured him that she would strike out the provision.
The first copy of the bill faxed to Sun.Star had July 24 as the date it was filed in Congress.
The second copy Sun.Star received yesterday was not yet filed in Congress. It said the proposed legislative district is not eligible to vote for officials in the Province.
“What for nga maghimo siya og distrito? Dili gyod na mahimo kay ang electorate sa matag legislative district kinahanglan gyod nga pabutohon sa ilang provincial board representative,” Noval said.
He said each congressional district is entitled to two provincial board members.
He said that even the setup where Lapu-Lapu residents cannot vote and those of Cordova can is still not allowed.
“Kung one district, all its electorate should vote. Dili kay usa ra ka LGU. Wala gyod ta anang balaurana nga gipasabot ni Ruiz,” Noval said.
Sitoy, for his part, asked Ruiz to consult with other congressmen in Cebu Province because neither the first nor the second draft of her bill is tenable in Congress. (AIV)
