The Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod deferred the proposed “takeover ordinance” scheduled for third and final reading yesterday after deliberating on the matter for more than an hour.

Councilor Dindo Ramos, one of its proponents, withdrew his motion for the passage of the proposed ordinance after acting Association of Barangay Captains president Diosdado Valenzuela asked to be given time to study the matter for a week.

Earlier, Councilor Homer Bais said he understands the position of Valenzuela, but they had already spent about three years discussing the matter.

But Valenzuela answered “You studied it for three years while I'm only asking for one week.”

Ramos said he believes it will not do any harm if they defer the passage of the ordinance. He said he is confident that Valenzuela will vote in favor of its passage on final reading.

Councilor Jocelle Batapa-Sigue said she is for the cancellation of the contract between the city and the Bacolod Real Estate Development Corp. but she is objecting to the passage of the proposed ordinance since she believes that the procedure laid down is not the proper one.

While Councilor Wilson Gamboa Jr. also moved for its deferment until next year saying Councilor Napoleon Cordova is still in the U.S. , while Valenzuela and newly elected Sangguniang Kabataan Federation president Councilor Kevin Daniel Ramos, who represent two major sectors in the city, need time to study it.

Bais said the two new members of the Council are the ones who are supposed to ask for the deferment of the proposed takeover ordinance and not the members of SP who are too vocal against the passage of the ordinance.

Councilor Al Victor Espino said he does not recognize the subsidiary motion of Gamboa, since Ramos had earlier moved for the passage of the proposed takeover ordinance, and instead he moved for the division of the House.

Councilor Alex Paglumotan supported the call of Espino to divide the house in order to determine whether the motion of Gamboa was meritorious or not.

“There should be no more debates since the longer we debate, the more we will hate each other,” Paglumotan said. He asked Gamboa to withdraw his motion and requested Ramos to defer the passage of the proposed ordinance.*CGS

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