South Upi VM wants a functional Sanggunian

TURN-OVER RITES --- Outgoing South Upi Mayor and now Vice Mayor Abdullah “Bedz” Campong, Al-hadj (seated) congratulates his successor Mayor Reynalbert O. Insular during inaugural ceremony last June 30 at the municipal gymnasium witnessed by municipal officials and  employees, residents, and organizational representatives. Standing with the two are outgoing SB member Lynda Erese (left) and Mary Elizabeth  Angot, private secretary to the outgoing municipal mayor. (Anne B. Acosta)

UPON assuming his elective post noontime last June 30, former mayor and now Vice Mayor Abdullah “Bedz” Campong of South Upi, Maguindanao said he will introduce changes at the Sangguniang Bayan (SB) so the municipal legislature be a functional entity of the people it serves.

As SB presiding officer, Campong, in an interview by this paper, said he will implement the rule of the conduct of weekly regular session, emphasizing the full attendance of the council members.

“Absenteism is strictly prohibited under my governance,” the vice mayor stressed as one point of a functional legislative body.

Ridding the council of habitual absenteeism, Campong said SB members will rotate as “officer of the day” from Monday to Friday so each can attend to the office businesses and feel the ways how a government body is administered.

To be effective legislators, he said the SB members have to undergo training on legislation and governance and “how to preside over meetings” as these are fundaments in discharging the functions of elected municipal officials or kagawads.

He said there is no sense for some members to belong to the silent majority since every kagawad has to speak up in behalf of the people and lead the functional committee they hold in the chamber for deliberation of issues and how to address municipal concerns.

Campong said every member has to act independently as an official and not merely rely on the chief of office who cannot always be around as he has other functions to attend. “If there is wrong in that system, then he will fix as soon as he can.”

In the inaugural, Campong officially handed over the ceremonial key to Reynalbert O. Insular as the new mayor of South Upi as the former also received the key to the SB.

Mayor Insular expressed gratefulness for the trust and support given him for his election as municipal chief executive, stressing his ascendancy is for the service of his constituents. (Anne B. Acosta and Zubaida P. Malawani)