Friday, April 25, 2008 Holiday after Kadaugan fest impractical: Lapu council
BY a vote of five against two, the Lapu-Lapu City Council disapproved a resolution asking President Arroyo to declare April 28, the day after the reenactment of the “Kadaugan sa Mactan”, a special non-working holiday in the city.
It would have allowed Oponganons to rest after watching the festivities this Sunday.
But City Councilor Damian Gomez said the resolution is impractical as it could affect export businesses coping with the peso-dollar exchange rate, and the wage earners who have to bear with the increasing prices of commodities.
Colleagues
Employees of companies who adopt the “no work, no pay” policy also stand to be affected.
A non-working holiday will compel employers to close office or pay the additional 30 per cent of a worker’s daily wage if they allow their workers to work, which Gomez said is unfair.
Since the “Kadaugan sa Mactan” was organized in 2000, the date of the culmination of the week-long activities was declared a special non-working holiday in Lapu-Lapu City.
This year, however, Gomez appealed to his colleagues to be prudent when calling for the declaration of a holiday.
“Depriving the 40,000 workers of subsistence is not an act of understanding,” Gomez said.
He explained that being the chairman of the council committee on business and industry, he is objecting to the approval of the resolution.
The staff of Mayor Arturo Radaza, who endorsed the resolution to the council for approval, said they thought the City’s tourism commission was consulted about the resolution before it was filed for deliberation with the City Council.
Production
It will be the first time for the City Government to put up a star-studded production, which will feature boxing champion Manny Pacquiao as Datu Lapu-Lapu and actor Dennis Trillo as the Portuguese conqueror Ferdinand Magellan. Pacquiao’s wife, Jinky, will play the role of Princess Bulakna.
“After the week-long affair, it would be proper and humane to allow not only the organizers of the celebration to have a rest day, but all the people of Lapu-Lapu as well,” Councilor Alexander Gestopa said in his resolution.
But Gomez said the holiday is not necessary because the reenactment is expected to end at 10 a.m., unlike the Sinulog festivities, which ends late at night.
It was the first time the majority bloc failed to agree as a group. Gestopa got the support of majority floor leader Cornelio Pahang, but Gomez had the vote of four of their councilors. Only City Councilor Florito Pozon abstained. (AIV)
