The Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod failed to act on the request of the mayor for the passage of a supplemental budget for payment of the city's electric billing with the Central Negros Electric Cooperative for lack of quorum at its regular session Wednesday.

The session was presided over by Councilor Greg Gasataya since Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson was in Brgy. 19 to distribute relief assistance to the victims of the Nov. 2 fire that claimed the lives of 17 persons and destroyed about P4 million worth of properties.

Gasataya said Mayor Evelio Leonardia had requested them to approve part of the supplemental budget of P3 million for payment to CENECO. The request includes P800,000 for the allowance of the city scholars for the second semester, he said.

They were not able to act on the request since, after the second roll call, there were only six councilors left, so Councilor Celia Flor moved for an adjournment, Gasataya said. The request of the mayor will be taken up again in the next session, he said.

SP Secretary Nilo Alejandrino said that when he called the attendance at the start of the session there were 10 councilors present out of the 14.

He said Councilor Jocelle Batapa-Sigue was on official travel, while Councilor Dindo Ramos was on official leave. He said Councilors Al Victor Espino and Kevin Daniel Ramos were absent.

Alejandrino said that during the session, there was an item where the mayor requested for the passage of an appropriation ordinance appropriating P23 million to be taken from the underestimated Internal Revenue Allotment, for the various essential needs of the city.

One of the councilors asked for the passage of a supplemental budget of P3 million for payment to CENECO, he said.

Alejandrino, however, said that under the rules, a majority vote of eight councilors is needed to pass a supplemental budget.

When he was asked to check if there was a quorum, it so happened that Councilor Diosdado Valenzuela left the session hall to lead the Liga ng mga Barangay Captains in distributing relief assistance to the fire victims, he said.

Alejandrino said Councilors Catalino Alisbo and Wilson Gamboa Jr. were also out of the session hall so there was no quorum to pass the supplemental budget so the session was adjourned although they were able to take up all matters contained in the agenda.

He said Alisbo left the session hall to attend to personal matters, while Gamboa was in his office and had a visitor and returned to the session hall when the session had already been adjourned.*CGS

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