Mayor frowns on ‘pulong-pulong’

CEBU City Mayor Michael Rama yesterday asked councilors to do away with conducting “pulong-pulong” during their off site sessions.

The mayor said that under the legislative body’s house rules, discussions in their sessions should only be limited to items included in their agenda.

“I commend the council for the conduct of their off site session so that people will know what’s going on at the city council pero purely session lang unta. Basta dili lang mo abot sa pulong pulong,” he said.

Otherwise this may result in “confusion” he said since public consultations should be left for the executive department l to do, he said.

“If they do something else (other than holding their regular session), the council may cause confusion among the people and besides, they are not the ones who can address the people’s concerns,” he said.

The city council convened their Oct. 12 session at the covered court of the mountain barangay of Bonbon, their first off site session.

During the session, Councilor Margot Osmena announced an P8 million outlay passed by the council three weeks ago for the construction of the Bonbon bridge, a concern which barangay captain Alex Ebareta raised during the gathering.

A second off site session is scheduled in the northern barangay of Guba on Oct. 26.

Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young said thesee sessions were planned to bring the city government closer to the mountain folk and to provide them a venue to air their concerns. Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac