‘No chairmanships for minority’

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña said opposition councilors will not get any committee chairmanship in the City Council when the reorganization takes place next month.

In his news conference yesterday, Osmeña said it will be up to the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) councilors to decide on who they choose to lead the different committees.

“It’s up to the Council, but chairmanships, no,” he told reporters.

Osmeña said the recent development in the legislative body is advantageous to them since they can implement the projects and programs in their governance vision.

“We’re very fortunate that we’ve reached the point where we are now in a stronger position where we could implement our visions for Cebu City,” he said.

Last Tuesday, Councilor James Cuenco resigned from his post as majority floor leader, paving the way for Councilor Margarita Osmeña to assume the post.

Team Rama councilors became the minority bloc in the legislative body after three of their former colleagues, Councilors Dave Tumulak, Nendell Hanz Abella, and Jerry Guardo, joined BOPK.

Cuenco, earlier, said his move is proper since the BOPK is already the Council majority.

Meanwhile, former mayor Michael Rama said he is proud of Cuenco’s move, saying their councilors have their own initiatives when it comes to fulfilling their duties.

BOPK is expected to distribute the committee chairmanships and other vacant positions on July 4.

Under Article I, Section I, Paragraph 1 and 2 of the House Rules of the Council, reorganization of the standing committees is only allowed every first Tuesday of July each year. /