Tuesday, August 14, 2007 Group bewails slow action on shelter code By Grace L. Plata
GROUPS rallying for the approval of the Shelter Code said the measure appears to be going nowhere in the City Council.
They were surprised to find out it was not included in the agenda of last week's council session despite the holding already of two committee hearings to revise the ordinance in accordance with Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte's veto message.
The measure is also not included in Tuesday's agenda.
Members of the Shelter Code Alliance expected to have the matter included for second reading in Tuesday's session.
Councilor Arnolfo Ricardo Cabling, chair of the committee on housing, rural and urban development, has told the group he has already submitted his committee report, along with the revised ordinance, to the committee on rules chaired by the floor leader, Councilor Bonifacio Militar, for inclusion in the second reading.
Last week's session highlight was the discussion of Supplemental Budget 1 of 2007 proposed by the executive department.
Virgie Bayo, co-convener of the Shelter Code Alliance and president of the Kobbler Federation of Neighborhood Associations, said they met with Militar to inquire about the status of the ordinance.
"Militar pointed out that the council was not able to resolve whether to accept or to override the veto of the mayor and that they called for its (the measure's) deferment during the July 17 session, hence, they cannot (calendar it for) second reading," Bayo said.
Vice Mayor Sara Z. Duterte hd called for a meeting to discuss the matter after the July 17 session.
The matter was then included in the agenda for the July 24 session and passed on first reading that same day.
Bayo said they do not want to think that some councilors are purposely delaying the ordinance to serve and protect their own special interests.
"I assume this is not the first time that the council has received veto messages from the mayor. It is surprising that they could not come up with a consensus on what to do with the veto message on the Shelter Code," Bayo said.
In a text message, Cabling said the Shelter Code was still not calendared for second reading in Tuesday's session.
