Tacloban opposition councilors offer unity with new mayor

TACLOBAN CITY, May 12 (PNA) -- Liberal Party (LP) members who won city council seats during Monday’s elections vowed to work efficiently with the new city mayor to prevent divisive government.

Councilor Jerry Uy said that for the improvement of Tacloban, they will try to have a good relationship with other members of the city council and Mayor-elect Cristina Gonzales-Romualdez.

Only three members of LP won this election. Aside from Uy, LP candidates Raissa Villasin and Jose Mari Bagulaya were re-elected. The council is presided by Vice Mayor Jerry Yaokasin (independent), who got a fresh mandate from the electorate.

New council members in Tacloban include Aimee Delgado-Grafil, Elvira Casal and Rachel Erica Chua Pineda. The other four Romualdez allies – Edwin Chua, Edward Chua, Evangeline Esperas, and Willy Domingo succeeded their re-election bids.

“It doesn’t mean that just because we are from the opposition, we will always oppose what the mayor wants. If that is good for the people, we will support it, but if we see that it is disadvantageous or a burden to the public, we will go against it,” said Uy.

“We will rise for a compromise if we see that it will greatly affect Taclobanon negatively,” Uy added.

However, the disadvantage of having only three opposition members in the city council, according to Uy, is that when there is an ordinance certified by the mayor as urgent, it would immediately be approved by the majority.

Uy added that since election is over, they can now focus on the deliberation of proposed ordinances.

Among this is the amendment of the plantilla position at the city disaster risk reduction and management office. (PNA)
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