Feb 19 Session

I presided the over session and administered the oath of our new floor leaders, councilors Danny Dayanghirang and Myrna Dalodo-Ortiz.

Feb 12 Session

I opened the session at 9 a.m. today in behalf of Acting Vice Mayor Councilor Mabel Acosta who called up to say she would be late. She was suffering from stomach ache.

She came in about 40 minutes later and I yielded the chair to her.

We have guests in our session today including Social Science 3 students from the University of Southeastern Philippines (USEP) and an Indonesian Consul.

My votes today are on:

Referral of the request of the Lower Cabantian United Homeowners Association re purchase of property to the City Legal Office;

Inclusion of the members of the Nagkahiusang Katawhang Nagpakabana sa Kinaiyahan sa Barangay Carmen in the city government's relocation program;

Approval of the Development Permit for Benjamin Hills Phase I subdivision located at Barangay Panacan containing an area of 22,462 square meters;

Approval of the Preliminary Approval and Locational Clearance of Forest Lake Parks located at Barangay Maa containing an area of 86,500 square meters;

Expression of condolence to the family of the late Councilor Cesar Robillo for the passing away of his mother, Socorro Robillo;

Legislative authorization for the City Mayor to sign Loan Agreement with the Pandaitan Multipurpose Cooperative;

Feb 5 Session

Today, I delivered a privilege speech on the election of a Davaoeno, Congressman Prospero Nograles, as the new Speaker of the House.

And I voted for the following:

Creation of more congressional districts in the City of Davao;

Approval of Barangay Ordinance No. 01-06 of Barangay Tacunan imposing taxes, fees and charges on local business;

Legislative authorization for the City Mayor to accept and sign the Deed of Donation re road lots and open spaces at Cecilia Heights, Barangay Cabatian;

Temporary closure of one lane of Dacudao Ave. on Feb 15 - March 15 for Agdao District activities;

Condemnation of the shooting of businessman Vicente Ferrazini on February 2 at Barangay Bankerohan;

Defining the composition of the local Personnel Selection Board;

Legislative authorization for a "No Parking" experiment for 30 days along Camia, Calachuci and Camachili Sts. at the vicinity of Ateneo de Davao;

Expression of condolence to the family of Davao Oriental Governor Corazon Nunez Malanyaon, who was a former member of the City Council, for the passing away of her father, Atilano Nunez;

Legislative authorization for the City Mayor to sign the loan agreement between the City Government and the Polocon People's Multipurpose Cooperative for livelihood projects;

Jan 29 Session

Today, I voted for the following measures:

City Ordinance requiring establishments to provide all female employees with seats;

Barangay Ordinance of Agdao Proper imposing taxes, fees and charges for services rendered;

Legislative authorization for the City Mayor to accept and receive the donation of road lots and open spaces of Phase 2 Emily Homes executed by HLC Construction & Development Corporation located at Barangay Cabantian;

Accreditation of the following as POs. NGOs, Coops:

ARD Hugpong Multipurpose Cooperative
Panacan Fisherfolks Multipurpose Cooperative
Toril District Prime Movers Cooperative
Samahan ng mga Musikero sa Davao, Inc.

Preliminary Approval & Locational Clearance of Villa Azalea subdivision located at Barangay Maa, containing an area of 31,229 square meters;

Jan 8 Session

Today is resumption of the session of the City Council.

This is my entry in my main blog welcoming a new member of the local legislative body, Paolo Duterte.

Here is the privilege speech I delivered regarding our share of national taxes.

Airport safety Ordinance

The City Council finally approved yesterday in third and final reading the Airport Safety Ordinance which I authored.

Oct 2 Session

I voted for the approval of 52 items under first reading yesterday and the legislative authority for the privatization of the Buhangin Public Market on third reading.

Thereafter, I again presided the session. Acting vice mayor Mabel Acosta had to take her lunch break.

Approved were the Shelter Code on its second reading and 14 items under suspended rules including the Resolutions on Myanmar and on Travel Advisories, which I authored but presented on the floor by councilors Leo Avila and Susabel Reta, respectively.

Travel advisories

Vice Mayor Sara Duterte suggested that we pass a Resolution regarding the travel advisories which affect the city. She said the Davao City Chamber of Commerce & Industry is likewise working to request foreign embassies to be specific with these travel warnings.

I have drafted one for the City Council's consideration tomorrow. Please click here.

Committee hearing

I will preside today in two committee hearings:

> Committee on Trade, Commerce & Industry - Request of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce for exemption from the Signage Ordinance for the Davao Trade Expo next month;

> Commitee on City-owned Real Estate Properties - Request of Barangay Catalunan Pequeno for the use of a 200 sq. meters lot for its Barangay Enterprise Center (I am the vice chair of the Committee and was asked by our chair, Councilor Vic Advincula, to preside)

Sept 25

Vice Mayor Sara Duterte was at City Hall as acting city mayor and our speaker pro-tempore Councilor Mabel Acosta had to leave for a conference in Dumaguete, so I was asked again to preside over our session yesterday.

Debated were several provisions of the proposed Shelter Code, the privatization of the Buhangin Public Market and the request for re-classification by Robinsons Land. The latter was the only item which called for the division of the house; with an 8-3 vote, the motion was lost. Read the blogger's accounts of this particular issue at Istambay sa Mindanaw and Alleba Politics

Other items discussed were under suspended rules, among which were: 34 barangay supplemental budgets; exemption of Medco from the signages Ordinance for the BIMP-EAGA conference; and various commendations.

Sept 18 Votes

Approved on First Reading in yesterday's session were my items on the request of the Chamber for exemption from the signage Ordinance for the Davao Trade Expo 07 next month, and the petition of the DACHEA on some problems besetting our employees union.

I voted for two measures granting the zoning reclassification of two urban poor housing projects.

I also partly presided over the session during the debate on the Shelter Code and discussion of items under suspended rules. Vice Mayor Sara Duterte was at City Hall as OIC Mayor, while Councilor Mabel Acosta, our acting presiding officer, had to rush to be by the bedside of his father at a local hospital.

Approved under my watch were 19 Barangay Supplemental Budgets, commendations for Sunstar, Pagcor's free medical clinic and MAJI's seminar on culture; and calls to stop the distribution of tainted toys from China.

Legislative Agenda

Priority Legislative Agenda of the 15th City Council

Economic Development

1. Enactment of the Tourism Code of Davao City

2. Enhancing agricultural growth through sustainable agriculture

3. Updating of the Investment Code to include ICT

Environment

1. Enactment of the Environment Code of Davao City

2. Enactment of the Fisheries Code of Davao City

3. Adoption of a Sewerage System for Davao City

Finance

1. Updating of local measures on taxes, fees & charges

2. Providing for more benefits to city employees

Infra & Urban Planning

1. Updating the Comprehensive Development Plan &

Zonification Ordinance of Davao City

2. Creation of the Davao City Zoo

3. Patubig sa Barangay Potable Water System

Peace & Public Safety

1. Proper Use of Streets Ordinance of Davao City

2. Ordinance on the Control of Volume on Karaoke

Public Administration

1. Establishment of new city facilities/institutions

a. City College (Tech/Voc, Aggie, Arts & Culture)

b. Overland Transport Terminal

c. City Hospital

2. Public Safety Department

3. Davao City Sports Commission

Social Services & Development

1. Comprehensive Health Care System of Davao City

2. Enhancement Legislation & Programs for Women and

Children

3. Enactment of the Older Persons' Welfare Code of Davao City

4. Enactment of the Food Safety Code of Davao City

Sept 3 Votes

I sponsored one item for 3rd and final reading yesterday on the Deed of Donation for the lots for open spaces and roads at the Yniguez Subdivision in Maa.

I also voted for the following measures:

Accreditation of the Sotoda Transport Cooperative; Agdao Multipurpose Cooperative; and Sasa Bolinao Fisherfolks Multipurpose Cooperative.

The Supplemental Budgets of over two dozen Barangays.

And the inclusion of the Pantat Festival at Los Amigos in our calendar of tourism activities.

August 28 Votes

At yesterday's session, I delivered a privilege speech on the sudden increase in airport terminal fees. I also authored two Resolutions, seeking the suspension of the increase in airport terminal fees, and the devolution of land transportation franchising to local governments.

In the absence of the chair of the Committee on Housing, I was asked to present six committee reports - three miscellaneous sales applications, two special use permits for cemeteries, and a deed of donation for a subdivision open spaces and road lots. I sponsored six Resolutions and one Ordinance for these committee reports.

New Resolutions

Our latest proposed Resolutions are now up at our wikislation:

Devolving land transportation franchising to LGUs, and

Public market reform program.

Please send in your comments and ideas. Thanks a lot!

Airport Safety Ordinance

Our proposed Davao (Bangoy) International Airport Safety Ordinance, which is now the subject of public hearings by the Committee on Energy, Transportation & Communication, is now up at our wikislation.

Share your thoughts and contribute to its final crafting.

August 21 Votes

There is little in our agenda today.

I voted for the Resolution to grant the Development Permit for the A. Pizzaro Village Homeowners Association socialized housing project located at Barangay Panacan containing an area of 16,287 square meters.

I voted for the Committee Report as well as the Resolution on the Comprehensive Shelter Code of Davao City.

Discussion is still going on for the Ordinance itself.

1st Update - 10:27 a.m.
It's been 30 minutes now, veteran Councilor Vic Advincula is still interpellating the reporting chair Councilor Arnolfo Ricardo Cabling. The former sought clarification on the term "tenure security," among others provisions in the Code.

2nd Update - 11:08 a.m.
After another 30 minutes of debate, including my query on how to deal with "rural housing" in this proposed code, the item was finally deferred for the next session.

We are now under suspended rules and I just voted for budget proposals for 36 barangays.

August 14 Session

I partly presided over our City Council session yesterday. Speaker Pro-tempore Councilor Mabel Acosta actually presided our session because Vice Mayor Sara Duterte is OIC at the City Mayor's Office.

Midway in our suspended rules, Acosta asked me to preside to give her time to have her lunch break.

Thus, outside of the vice mayor and pro-temp I was the first member of the Council to preside the session of the 15th Council. I did the same feat in 2001 when I was the first neophyte to preside our session in the 13th Council.

I voted yesterday in favor the 3rd and final reading of Supplemental Budget No. 1; the approval of the Development Permit of RDL Staff Housing Project; and a few items under suspended rules.

Also approved yesterday was my Resolution re opening of the Chinese consulate in the city.

Agenda for August 14

The City Council agenda tomorrow includes 58 items under 1st Reading, 1 item under 3rd and final Reading (Supplemental Budget No. 1), and 5 items under 2nd Reading. The latter all coming from the Committee on Housing, Rural & Urban Development.

Re-opening of the Chinese consulate

I have rewritten my Resolution seeking the re-opening of the Chinese consulate in Davao City. It is now in my wiki with two comments. Please send in yours.

I hope to present it at the City Council on August 14.