SEVERAL legislative measures and other matters have remained pending at the Misamis Oriental Provincial Board after the legislative body failed to constitute a quorum for two consecutive sessions.
Board member President "Prexy" Elipe said it has been observed that since the start of the local campaign, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan convened only a few times.
Elipe said it is unfair for the people of the province that matters affecting them were not immediately acted upon because some members failed to attend the regular session.
"Unfair dili para sa amo kundili sa katawhan. Kani namatikdan pagsugod sa kampanya. Kasagaran wala diri mga kandidato pud. Kung moingon sila nga busy sila sa campaign busy pud mi but we make time nga makatunga kay serbisyo gud atong gitan-aw," Elipe said.
(Unfair not for us, but for the public. We have noticed that since the campaign period, most of those who failed to attend the sessions are candidates. We are also busy but we take time to attend because we are here to serve.)
"Looy kaayo ang katawhan kay there are lots of items for review and wala pa maaksyonan. Sa executive department lang daan 53 ka items ang kailangan i-follow-up ang uban ani since 2017 pa, wala pay labot ang mga ordinances from the different municipalities," he added.
Only seven members of the SP were present during the session Monday, April 29. They are Mercy Grace Acain, Wayne Militante, Elipe, Nancy Madjos, Frederick Khu, Gerardo Sabal III, and Leonard Winstanley.
Boris Oliver Actub and Lilian Gallogo were absent while Vincent Pelaez, Kerwin Jess Soldevilla, Virgelia Dumadag, Jigjag Pelaez and Vice Governor Joey Pelaez were on out on official business (OB).
Sabal called the attention of the board secretariat and asked for a list of those members who have frequent absences and OB.
He said a board member who had incurred three or more consecutive absences can be suspended.
"I want to ask the frequency of the usage of OB kay this has been the most abused excuse by some of our colleagues,"Sabal said.
Sabal said there should be a strict implementation of the house rules regarding attendance.
Sabal also questioned the attendance of legislative employees who failed to prepare the necessary documents for the committee hearing on the Indigenous Peoples (IP) representation at the SP.
"Aha man ang mga legislative officers? Naay insakto nga process sa mga empleyado nga naay matters nga i-attend sa gawas through pass slips. So I am asking where are their pass slips and who signed it," Sabal said.
The board members said their colleagues should still attend the session despite busy schedules because of the campaign.