By PR | 10:44 AM October 27, 2024
Tagbilaran City Councilor Malvin Misael “Atoy” Co Torralba challenged the city administration’s management of the city government, specifically, the lack of proper drainage and flood control system, faulty water supply system and poor solid waste management.
“Ang nagpakabana ug mabinantayon nga konseho timailhan sa usa ka maayo og matarong nga demokrasya ug panggamhanan,” said Torralba in a privilege speech during the city council’s regular session on Friday, October 25, 2024.
The privilege speech was prompted after a fellow councilor questioned his work and accomplishments as a member of the 15th Tagbilaran City Council in their previous.
Torralba, while acknowledging that he is serving the City Government of Tagbilaran as City Councilor and Majority Floor Leader, emphasized his legislative role, which is distinct and separate from the executive branch that manages the city. He went on to enumerate a few of his legislative accomplishments in his short service (about 27 months) as City Councilor, including having authored the ordinances: (1) Civil Society Participation in Governance (Ord. No. C-352), (2) Relocating, Expanding, and Upgrading The Tagbilaran City Primary Care Facility (Ord. No. C-366), and (3) Establishing The City’s Public Parks And Open Spaces (Ord. No. C-360). Torralba said he also helped push for the P12-M budgetary provision to establish STP’s in the city hall complex.
Torralba also emphasized the legislative oversight function of the city council, which includes monitoring and holding the executive accountable for its actions and for ensuring that it implements policies in accordance with the laws and budget and their intended results of serving all of the citizens of Tagbilaran.
Torralba cited several issues that show the city executive’s mismanagement of the city, including the years-long problem of lack of adequate water supply in the barangays of Manga, Tiptip, Taloto, and Booy. He says his office receives numerous complaints on this issue from the residents of said barangays.
Another clear oversight of the city government is on solid waste management or the lack thereof. Torralba cited the 2023 Audit Report of that Commission on Audit, which concluded that the “City Government of Tagbilaran was not in compliance, in all material respects, with Article 3 (or the Collection and Transport of Solid Wastes) of RA No. 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.”
Finally, Torralba highlighted the city’s poor drainage system and lack of a flood control system, which result in flooding in many of the city’s major roads during heavy rainfall. This problem has been especially felt this week with the heavy downpour brought by Severe Tropical Cyclone Kristine. He cited one particular road, Lamdagan Street, whose flooding was well documented by netizens on Monday evening.
“The City Mayor proudly announced in her SOCA last July that the drainage in Lamdagan Street had been completed. But why is Lamdagan still flooded?” Torralba asked.
After Torralba’s speech last Friday morning, netizens noticed a series of live video updates from Mayor Jane Yap and the Tagbilaran City Government monitoring Lamdagan Street, showing at that time that it is passable.
“Well and good, they were triggered to act on this concern. While Lamdagan may not have been flooded yesterday afternoon, it’s still a fact that it was heavily flooded the other night, well after the City Mayor claimed that the drainage project there has been completed. We just hope that the city monitors all of the streets and other flood-prone areas in Tagbilaran,” Torralba said.
“We want genuine and real sustainable development for all in Tagbilaran City. That is simply not what our people can feel and see right now, ” he added.
