BY: ANGELICA ARQUERO
A heated exchange took place in the Baguio City Council during discussions on amending the city’s revised charter, specifically Sections 23 and 52 of Republic Act No. 11689.
Under Section 23, approved resolutions and ordinances of the Baguio City Council must be submitted to the Benguet Provincial Board for review and approval.
Meanwhile, Section 52 involves the creation of a special committee on lands to assist the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) in handling ancestral land claims in the city.
Vice Mayor Faustino Olowan strongly opposed the provision requiring the city’s resolutions and ordinances to go through the Benguet Provincial Board.
“That provision is not in the law. The job of the city legal office and city secretary is to bring our ordinances directly to the appropriate authorities, not the Benguet Provincial Board,” Olowan said.
The discussion escalated when Councilor Betty Lourdes Tabanda intervened, urging the council to stay focused on the issue.
“Can we just stick to the issue?” Tabanda questioned after Olowan brought up his political history with Congressman Mark Go.
Tensions flared further when Councilor Fred Bagbagen claimed that the revised charter was passed without proper consultation.
“I think there was no real consultation. The one they are referring to happened after the revised city charter was already approved, which is not the type of consultation we needed,” Bagbagen said.
Olowan reacted strongly to this, expressing frustration over the oversight.
“They forgot this provision, and now they are here claiming they didn’t see it? How could that happen?” he exclaimed.
The debate became more personal when Olowan criticized Tabanda for allegedly siding with Congressman Go, who authored the law.
“It’s time to stop supporting him. He made mistakes. Why? Because he was the sponsor of this law, and now we are suffering because of it,” Olowan argued.
Tabanda, however, maintained her stance, emphasizing the importance of a respectful and issue-focused discussion.
“I respect this chamber as a place for exchanging ideas without personal attacks,” she said.
Despite the heated debate, the council eventually agreed to focus on whether to approve a resolution calling for amendments to the city charter.
Councilor Benny Bomogao emphasized the need for thorough revisions.
“We need more amendments to this law because it does not fully address the city’s concerns,” Bomogao said.
The council will continue its review before submitting its proposed amendments to Malacañang for approval by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
