The Revised Revenue Code was validly passed in its third and final reading byt the Sangguniang Panlungsod last November 11, 2011, asserted Councilor Caesar Distrito, chairman of the SP Committee on Laws, Ordinances and Good Government.
Distrito explained that Under Section 458, par. 2 (ii) of the Local Government Code, it clearly says that revenue ordinances passed by the SP need a majority vote of all the members. Since the Bacolod SP is a 14-member council, eight votes already constitute a majority, he pointed out. The claim that the SP needs a 2/3 vote to pass the revenue code is clearly ignorance of the law, according to Distrito. He explained that the 2/3 votes pertains only to "tax exemptions, incentives or reliefs to entities engaged in community growth-inducing industries." Councilor Dindo Ramos, the Vice Chairman of the Committee of Laws, Ordinances and Good Government, supported the opinion of Distrito, as he in fact appealed the ruling of the then presiding officer, El Cid Familiaran. Councilors Em Ang and Homer Bais wondered why oppositors of the measure still continue saying that it was a 'lost' measure when in fact after the ruling of the chair was over-ruled, a new votation was called and the chair declared it as ordinance "passed" in 3rd and final reading. Councilors Al Victor Espino and Bobby Rojas argued that under the SP Internal Rules and Local Govenrment Code, any ruling made by the presiding officer can be appealed and overruled by a majority vote of the SP, which was exactly what happened in this case. The SP can even override the veto of the Mayor, much more that the SP can overrule the decision of the acting vice mayor. Councilor Carl Lopez also argued that the essence of a deliberative body is the rule of the majority, and having the majority ruled, the minority should respect, considering that special sessions were even held to give ample time to all the councilors to explain and participate in the deliberation of the said proposal. Espino, author of the ordinance, explained that the said proposal was filed more than one year in the SP, eight public hearings were conducted to various sectors, all the position papers were consodilated and some of the proposals were even considered, and five session days were held for the 2nd reading alone of the said ordinance. Carla Canet Sun Star Bacolod
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