With nine votes against four, the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK)-dominated Cebu City Council yesterday shot down Mayor Michael Rama’s veto on the proposed Solo Parents’ Ordinance.
Proposed city ordinance 2935 provides P5,000 annual cash assistance to single parents. The measure was authored by Councilor Gerardo Carillo, a BO-PK member.
“If the mayor feels that he is adversely affected, there is an option for declaratory relief before the court of law,” Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella said after the voting.
In a committee report delivered in yesterday’s session, Councilor Sisinio Andales, chairman of the Committee on Laws, said Rama’s veto was issued beyond the 10-day reglementary period as provided for under the Local Government Code.
Rama issued his veto message 26 days after the ordinance was passed.
Councilor Hans Abella pointed out the opinion of city local government operations officer Danilo Almendras who reiterated Rama’s veto power.
“We are under the supervision of DILG and the opinion should be given weight,” he said during their deliberation.
Abella together with Councilor Mary Ann delos Santos objected to the passage of the proposed Solo Parents’ Ordinance.
Andales said he was surprised with the mayor’s veto as he had even mentioned his administration’s desire to extend cash relief to solo parents together with the elderly and people with disabilities during his State of the City Address last July 2.
“If he (Rama) is against it, he should not have mentioned that in his SOCA,” he added.
Sharing the mayor’s sentiments, delos Santos said they are not against giving aid to solo parents, but they have reservations on some of the ordinance’s provisions.
Andales said the only question that the Council should resolve is the time of the issuance of Rama’s veto message.
Councilor Nestor Archival called for a recess to allow legislators to discuss among themselves their concerns. When session resumed, Labella said that their action may affect “the substantive aspect” of the powers of the mayor.
“This is a procedural question. If (Andales’ committee report is) approved, this means that the ordinance was approved by inaction. The mayor loses his veto power,” Labella said.
The councilors however, pushed through with the voting.
Carillo, Andales, Alvin Dizon, Leah Japson, Margot Osmeña, Roberto Cabarrubias, Nestor Archival, Alvin Arcilla and Richie Osmena, all BO-PK-allied councilors, voted for passage of Andales’ committee report that will allow the City Council to override Rama’s veto.
Abella, delos Santos, James Cuenco and Philip Zafra of Team Rama voted against it.
Two BO-PK allies – Eugenio Gabuya and Noel Wenceslao – abstained from voting while Nida Cabrera, is in Berlin on official business. Councilor Dave Tumulak of Team Rama was not in the session hall when the voting was made.
The ordinance in question was transmitted to the mayor’s office at the time when Rama was in the US, and Labella, who was then acting mayor, said it was not proper for him to act on a legislation which was passed with him as presiding officer.
Ironically, the City Council voted to override Rama’s veto yesterday, just as Rama was again scheduled to fly to the US.
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Rama vetoes solo parents ordinance