12^TH Sangguniang Panlungsod, Presiding Officer, City Vice Mayor Jose Antonio S. Veloso anticipates its first joint session  with the Sangguniang Barangay of Mansasa this coming October 2.  Several members of the Office of the Vice Mayor and Sangguniang Panlungsod staff had been deployed to help the Sangguniang Baranagy of Mansasa in the preparation of the upcoming joint legislative session.

Punong Barangay Manolo P. Blanco of Mansasa, looks forward to the joint session as well and is eager to present all the issues and concerns of their barangay. Blanco is hopeful that through this joint session, the City Government through the Sangguniang Panlungsod can provide solutions to the problems of their barangay and guide the Sangguniang Barangay of Mansasa to the proper office/person who can help them with their issues.

Vice Mayor Veloso  pushes for the  conduct of  joint sessions with the Sangguniang Barangays in order to get a closer view on the problems of the barangay. Most of the issues being forwarded to the Sangguniang Panlungsod have a citywide level impact, but Vice Mayor Veloso acknowledges that behind this citywide issue, the rootcause of these problems can be traced to the barangay level.   Joint sessions give the Sangguniang Barangays the opportunity to express their concerns to the Sangguniang Panlungsod.

The 12^th Sangguniang Panlungsod had the privilege of having a joint legislative session with the Barangay Council of Cabawan last June 26, 2015. Most of the concerns and issues raised by the Barangay Council of Cabawan were related to road and infrastructure problems. City Vice Mayor Jose Antonio S.  Veloso, presiding officer of the 12^th Sangguniang Panlungsod, had referred these issues to the Committee on Engineering and Public Works, under the leadership of Hon. Philipp S. Besas.

Hon. Besas sought the help of City Engineer, Engr. Pianicita S. Castolo, to shed light on the concerns raised by the Barangay Council of Cabawan.

Engr. Castolo one by one tackled the problems and gave input on the next possible action to help the barangay of Cabawan. Engr. Castolo said that Provincial Administrator Alfonso R. Damalerio, III,  of the  Provincial Government of Bohol had committed to undertake the repair and maintenance of the roads going to Bohol District Jail and Tagbilaran District Jail.  Engr. Castolo promised that the City Engineering will work on the holes on the road that leads to Gawad Kalinga settlement. As for the damages on the access ramp where the culverts were washed away by the typhoon Senyang, this project will be undertaken  by the Department of Public Works and Highways. The rest of the roads mentioned during the joint legislative session such as the road from Casa to Greenhouse and Bacareza St. will be subjected to usual city-wide road maintenance activities once  the funds are available.

During the regular session held last August 14, 2015 at the Lao Building, Hon. Philipp S. Besas, Chairperson of the Committee on Engineering and Public Works, reported that the concern raised during the Joint Legislative Session with Barangay Cabawan,  had been resolved. It can be recalled that during the joint session last June 26, 2015, Jail Chief Inspector Jose Rusylvi  T. Abueva of the Bohol District Jail (BDJ) and Jail Inspector Robert Crisanto L. Alpon II of the Tagbilaran City Jail (TDJ) requested the help of the 12^th Sangguniang Panlungsod for the installation of street lights along the road  going to BDJ and TDJ.  Chief Inspector Abueva expressed concern that the dark roads at night time is not safe for travel, especially when they need to transport inmates during emergency situations. Inspector Alpon also added that notorious inmates might  take advantage of this situation and escape under the cover of darkness.

Hon. Besas wasted no time and invited Engr. Felito Francisco of City Engineering’s Office – Electrical Division to help, during their committee meeting to help resolve the issue. Engr. Francisco promised that he will see to it that the street lightings will be installed on the roads leading to BDJ and TDJ.

City Vice Mayor Jose Antonio S. Veloso, presiding officer of the 12^th Sangguniang Panlungsod, appreciated the swift response of the committee regarding this issue. Vice Mayor Veloso emphasized that the Committee should regularly monitor the developments of Engr. Francisco’s promise until the lights will be actually installed.

In the pursuit of providing quality  service and promoting client satisfaction, the City Government will launch the Enhanced Business Permit and Licensing System (BPLS) also known as “The Project,”  which is a Cooperation Agreement entered into between the Department of Interior Local Government (DILG) and the International Finance Cooperation of the World Bank. The project will be implemented in the City’s local system and would systematically reduce the registration time and the cost of the registries and attract more investors.

To set the wheels turning for the enhance the BPLS Project, Hon. Joseph T. Bompat, Chairperson of the Ways and Means Committee, submitted Resoution No. 121-15,  “Authorizing the Honorable City Mayor John Geesnell L. Yap II, in behalf of the City of Tagbilaran, to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement with the Department of Interior and Local Government, Region VII, represented  by Rene K. Burdeos, CESO III, Regional Director, for the implementation of the Enhanced Business Permit and Licensing System (BPLS) Project. “

Knowing the importance and significance of the said project, City Vice Mayor Jose Antonio S. Veloso, presiding officer of the 12^th Sangguniang Panlungsod, banged his gavel, signifying the approval for Resolution no 121-15 during the second regular session for the month of August, the 12^th Sangguniang Panlungsod last August 14, 2015.

City Vice Mayor Jose Antonio S. Veloso, during his presiding officer’s time in the session jointly held with the Barangay Council of Manga last August 07, 2015, informed the body of the demise of two former city councilors namely, Hon. Uriel del Rosario Leopando and Hon. Nemesia Café Uy.

Former City Councilor Uriel del Rosario Leopando, who passed away last August 04, 2015, served for 13 years in the Sangguniang Panlungsod. He was best known for his down-to-earth approach in crafting resolutions and ordinances.

Former City Councilor Nemesia Café Uy, who was also a former assistant city prosecutor, passed away last August 6, 2015. She was one of the leading advocates of women’s and children’s rights and was very dedicated to uphold the rule of law and justice.

During the session, City Councilor Agustinus V. Gonzaga, motioned that he will author the resolutions honoring the two former city councilors. City Councilor Gonzaga expressed the sentiments of the 12^th Sangguniang Panlungsod in their appreciation of the valuable contributions of the two former city councilors through the resolutions. His motion was unanimously agreed by the whole council and they have  agreed to sponsor it en masse.

During the joint session of the 12th Sangguniang Panlungsod and the Barangay Council of Manga held last August 07, 2015 at the Barangay Hall of Manga, Punong Barangay Leda Saco asked the help of the 12^th Sangguniang Panlungsod regarding ordinances and laws that were not properly implemented. The Barangay Council of Manga expressed their concern on the increasing number of fish cages along the Manga Coastal Area which is covered by an existing city ordinance.

City Vice Mayor Jose Antonio S. Veloso, the presiding officer of the 12^th Sangguniang Panlungsod, explained that the Sangguniang Panlungsod can only craft ordinances and resolutions, but the enforcement of laws is under the executive function. Nevertheless, Vice Mayor Veloso assured the Barangay council of Manga that the SP will help review the ordinance and check if there are amendments needed so that it can properly address the concern of Barangay Manga. Vice Mayor Veloso added that the 12^th SP encourages the barangays to express all their concerns during the joint session and the SP would gladly inform the executive departments led by  City Mayor John Geesnell L. Yap II, regarding ordinances that needed proper implementation and enforcement.

True to their promise to bring the government closer to the people, the 12^th Sangguniang Panlungsod, led by Presiding Officer Hon. Jose Antonio S. Veloso, once again had a successful joint session last August 07, 2015, this time, with  the Barangay Council of Manga led by Punong Barangay Leda S. Saco, at the Barangay Hall of Manga.

Punong Barangay Saco, with the cooperation of the whole Barangay Council of Manga, was able to come up with 17 major issues and concerns that Barangay Manga is facing. The majority of the 17 issues was related to road and infrastructure projects and the SP truly appreciated the presence of Engr. Ingrid Pocot, as representative of the City Engineering Office, who directly addressed the road and infrastructure problems of Barangay Manga. Although some infrastructure problems, such as the Manga Fishport, the development of Tubig Dako Spring and Antajon Swimming Pool, and the open canal near Manga Elementary School, were not directly under the jurisdiction of the City Engineering Office, Engr. Pocot gladly assured the body that their office will make follow-up to the proper offices such as the DPWH and the Department of Agriculture (for the Manga Fishport).

Other concerns of the Barangay Manga such as Traffic Congestion, Illegal Drugs, Increasing Number of Fish Cages,Motorcycle nuisance at night, Air pollution coming from Cortes Piggery,the enforcement of their regulatory fee for MATODA, and the creation of programs for the youth and unemployed housewives and mothers, were all  addressed by the City Councilors and referred to the respective committees for further action.

Last June 26, 2015, the 12^th Sangguniang Panlungsod conducted their last regular session for the month of June at the Barangay Hall of Cabawan. The session was the 9^th Out of the City Hall Session conducted jointly with the Barangay Council of Cabawan.

The session was led jointly by 12^th Sangguniang Panlungsod Presiding Officer Jose Antonio S. Veloso and Punong Barangay Luis Coto of Barangay Cabawan.

Bohol District Jail Chief Inspector Jose T. Abueva and City Jail Senior Inspector Roberto Crisanto Alpon III joined  the joint session and took the opportunity to air out requests and concerns in their respective offices.

Chief Inspector Abueva requested the body to help in the lighting of the street posts along the way to the Bohol District Jail. He emphasized the importance of the street lights, especially during times when they have to usher inmates to the hospital during night time. He also said that inmates might plan an escape route and take advantage of the cover of darkness.

Senior Inspector Alpon also  the help of the Sangguniang Panlungsod to remind the City Government of  their requests made during the Executive, Legislative Agenda (ELA) such as the lot titling and the naming of the lot currently occupied by the City Jail, which is under the name of the City School Board, a service vehicle and the strengthening and expansion of the perimeter fence of the City Jail.  Alpon stressed that if the lot occupied by the City Jail would be transferred under its name, the City Jail can make improvements and receive counterpart appropriations from the bureau. He also added that there is an increase in the number of inmates after the successive drug bust operations within the City  but only  one service vehicle in a not-so-good condition.

Hon. Jeremias Pabe took charge of Abueva’ s concern and will coordinate with the City Engineering Office and the Barangay Council of Cabawan to provide and install the street lights.

Hon. Bebiano Inting informed the body that there is a Program of Works for the City Jail and will make the necessary follow-up to ensure that these programs will be realized.

During the last regular session for the month of June of the 12th Sangguniang Panlungsod which was held jointly with the Barangay Council of Cabawan, Presiding Officer Jose Antonio S. Veloso mentioned during his presiding officer’s time that it will be the last session that Hon. Edgar Bompat will be joining them as member of the 12^th Sanggniang Panlungsod since Hon. Bompat will be relinquishing his position. Hon. Edgar Bompat is the Punong Barangay of Dampas and is an ex-officio member of the 12^th Sangguniang Panlungsod since he is the current President of the Liga ng mga Barangay. Hon. Bompat will be succeeded by Hon. Nicanor Besas, the Punong Barangay of Cogon, who is the Vice-President of the Liga ng mga Barangay starting this July 1. City Vice Mayor Veloso thanked Hon. Bompat for his time, talent and resources during his a year and a half of service to the 12^th Sangguniang Panlungsod and wished him the best of luck in all his endeavors in the realm of public service.