VICE Mayor Sebastian "Baste" Duterte, in his inaugural speech, said the 19th City Council will push to enact 24 landmark ordinances in order to pursue the priority agendas of both local and National Government.
Duterte, during the first regular session on Tuesday, July 2, said he and the council will try their best to pass and amend ordinances "to be responsive to the ever changing times".
"We are here to champion in the interest of the people. If there is dispute, we will revisit," the vice mayor said.
"I would like to remind the Dabawenyos that there are emerging opportunities of development. We should value those opportunities," Duterte further said.
Meanwhile, the 19th City Council has also named the heads of various committees.
Councilors Melchor Quitain was elected as Majority Floor Leader, while Edgar Ibuyan Jr. was elected as President Pro-tempore, and Louie John Bonguyan as the Assistant Floor Leader.
The above-mentioned councilors will also head different chair committees. Quitain will chair the committee on rules, privileges, laws and ordinances; while Ibuyan Jr. will chair the committee on public works and highways; and Bonguyan for the committee on energy.
The new councilors also got different chairmanships in different standing committees: Ralph Abella for the committee on agriculture and food; Alberto Ungab for the committee on appointments and government reorganization; Jonard Dayap for committee on cooperative development and people's participation; Diosdado Mahipus Jr. for committee on environment and natural resources, and oversight committee; Bai Cassandra Advincula for committee on housing and subdivision development under Batas Pambansa Blg. 220 (medium-end projects); Jessica Bonguyan for committee on information technology; Javi Campos for committee on international relations; Pamela Librado for committee on labor and employment opportunities; Wilberto "Nonoy" Al-ag for committee on social services; Myrna Dalodo-Ortiz for committee on tourism and beautification; Nilo Abellera Sr. for committee on trade, commerce and industry; and Richlyn Justol for committee on women, children and family relations.
Re-elected councilors were also elected in their respective committees: Edgar Ibuyan, Sr. for committee on barangay affairs, and committee on government enterprise and privatization; Bonifacio Militar for committee on city-owned properties, and committee on housing and subdivision development under Presidential Decree 957 (high-end projects); Antoinette Principe-Castrodes for committee on civil, political and human rights and committee on ethics and good governance; Pilar Braga for committee on education, science and technology, arts and culture; Danilo Dayanghirang for committee on finance, ways and means, and appropriations; Dante Apostol for committee on franchises and public utilities; Mary Joselle Villafuerte for committee on health; Jesus Joseph Zozobrado - committee on housing, rural and urban development (low-end projects); Maria Belen Acosta for committee on peace and public safety, and committee on special publications; Conrado Baluran for committee on transportation and communication; and Jaffar Marohomsalic for committee on youth and sports.
Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative Bai Halila Sudagar was named to chair the committee on cultural communities and Muslim affairs, but was later put on hold due to a pending disqualification case on the recently concluded IPMR selection last May.