TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines- Aside from overturning Cagayan Governor Manuel Mamba’s line vetoes on the 2017 annual budget, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan voted unanimously to override two other vetoed ordinances, in a special session on Friday, December 15.
These were “An Ordinance Allocating Funds for Institutionalizing the Provision of No Interest on Agricultural Production Loans to Cooperatives and Farmers’ Associations” and “An Ordinance Establishing A Senior High School Financial Assistance Program for Poor but Deserving Students of the Province and appropriating Funds therefor.”
Absent in the special session was Third District Board Member Karen Kaye Turingan.
First District Board Member Cristopher Barcena who proposed the allocation of funds for institutionalizing the provision of no interest on agricultural production loans to cooperatives and farmers’ associations expressed gladness over the override.
“Labis po tayong nagagalak sapagkat nabigyan ng pagkakataon ang ating mga kapatid na magsasaka… nang sa ganoon ay matulungan natin sila doon sa kanilang problema sa usaping produksyon sa pang-araw-araw nilang ikinabubuhay,” he said.
Governor Mamba refused to sign the ordinance on August, prompting Barcena to hit Mamba in a privilege speech in a consequent session.
“Nung una, siyempre, hindi po natin maiwasang sumakit ang ating pakiramdam doon sa pag-veto ng ating governor dito sa ordinansa na ito sapagkat alam naman natin na the very purpose of this ordinance ay para tulungan yung ating mga kapos-palad na mga kapatid na magsasaka,” he said.
Barcena said the ordinance will be a “big help” for farmers, noting that only the province has enacted such an ordinance providing farmers with loans with no interest.
“Itong pag override na ito ay para maiparating sa mga masasaka sa lalawigan ng Cagayan na sila ay isa sa mga prayoridad na sektor na dapat mapagtuunan ng pansin at mabigyan ng mga ganitong panukalang batas na siyang kahit papaano ay lulunas sa matagal na nilang nararanas na kahirapan patungkol doon sa mataas na interes na pautang dito sa lalawigan ng Cagayan,” he said.
Meanwhile, the other overturned ordinance’s proponent and Third District Board Member Rosauro Resuello also expressed his “joy” over the override.
“Sa tingin ko naman, yan din naman ang sentimyento na rin ng kabuuan ng sangguniang panlalawigan na that will be of great help to others,” he said.
“Para yung senior high school natin naman ang matulungan kasi sa tingin ko itong mga senior high school na ito yung iba sa kanila ay hindi na makakarating ng kolehiyo so itodo na natin ang suporta natin sa kanila so that when they graduate from their senior high school years, agad-agad trained sila, equipped sila at makahanap sila ng kabuhayan nila,” he added.
Resuello’s ordinance will provide a financial assistance of P3,000 per semester to a student.
Yet, the board member said only the governor will implement the program.
“If he thinks that it is not yet the right time to implement it this year, let’s give him all the right to do so because he is the governor. He is mandated by the government to implement and execute kung ano sa tingin niya,” Resuello said.
Meanwhile, board member Barcena said the unanimous override “serves as a warning” to elected officials especially local chiefs that their power is “not absolute.”
“Ito ay isang napakalaking aral na kailangang pagpaplano sa pag-unlad sa isang lokalidad, kailangang ito ay pinag-aaralan hindi lang ng isang tao bagkus ay kailangang isama lahat ng mga leaders na elected by the people dahil sa kanila itiniwala ang kinabukasan ng komunidad,” Barcena said. Northernforum.net
