Monday, September 29, 2008 Guadalupe to undo resolution that blocked plebiscite on split
ASIDE from Rep. Antonio Cuenco’s promise to file in Congress today a bill creating Barangay Banawa Englis,, things are looking up for those fighting to split Barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City.
Jaime Sala of the Banawa Separation Movement said that Guadalupe officials have promised to file a measure repealing a March 2, 2002 resolution blocking a plebiscite for the split.
Barangay Councilor Fred Gallardo, Sala added, promised to draft the measure, with Barangay Councilor Bert Camo as co-author, during the barangay council’s regular session on Oct. 7.
“All the other councilors say they support the separation. Ingon si Councilor Dino (Faelnar) usa siya sa mopirma, pero ambot lang kuno sa iyang papa (Barangay Captain Eugenio Faelnar) mopirma ba (Councilor Faelnar said he will support the repeal of the resolution but he couldn’t say the same of his father),” Sala said.
The March 2002 resolution prevented the holding of a plebiscite, which was postponed for three times before it was shelved.
Sala said, though, that they still hope for the City Council to proceed with the reenactment of the ordinance setting a plebiscite date and allocating funds for it.
“We are fighting both ways,” said Sala, adding they didn’t want to create the impression that they were depending solely on Congressman Cuenco.
Once the barangay resolution is repealed, that will mean one less obstacle, he also learned from Commission on Elections south district Election Officer Edwin Cadungog.
He said that instead of Banawa-Englis, which was first thought of, they decided in their meeting with Cuenco last Saturday to do away with the dash.
In a separate interview, Barangay Councilor Harry Cańete said majority of the barangay council members are neophyte officials who support the Banawa and Englis residents’ wishes.
Even Barangay Captain Faelnar had said he favors the creation of a new barangay, saying it will help in giving better services to the residents there.
Cuenco (Cebu City, south district), said leaders of the movement liked his bill better than City Ordinance 1661, which authorized the separation of Banawa and Englis from Guadalupe, because it is more specific.
The bill identified 57 puroks within the proposed new barangay’s jurisdiction, with 37 in Banawa and 20 in Englis.
The six-page bill also defined the territorial boundary of Banawa Englis, and said that the Comelec must “conduct and supervise the plebiscite, to be held in the area affected within 30 days from the effectivity of this Act.”
Cuenco identified the seat of government of the new barangay as the old Sitio Banawa.
“The corporate existence of Barangay Banawa Englis, City of Cebu shall commence upon the election and qualification of its punong barangay and majority of the members of its sangguniang barangay in a special election, which will be held within one year following the ratification of this act in the plebiscite,” read the bill.
Cuenco said he will file the proposed measure at the House of Representatives this afternoon. (RHM)
