The “takeover ordinance” involving the operation and management of the port at the reclamation area in Bacolod City was transmitted by the Sangguniang Panlungsod to the Office of the City Mayor yesterday.

City Legal Officer Allan Zamora said the Mayor has forwarded the ordinance to his office for study, after which he will make his recommendation.

He said Mayor Evelio Leonardia has 10 days to act on it starting today. The Mayor will decide whether to sign the ordinance or allow it to lapse into law, or veto it.

Zamora said if the Mayor vetoes the ordinance, the SP can override it by a vote of two thirds, or 10 out of 14 votes.

The “takeover ordinance” was approved on third and final reading by the SP last Dec. 19, 2007 with seven positive votes against five negative votes and one abstention.

Only Association of Barangay Captains president Diosdado Valenzuela was not present during the session, because his brother passed away.

Those who voted in favor of the ordinance were Councilors Dindo and Kevin Daniel Ramos, Homer Bais, Al Victor Espino, Greg Gasataya, Celia Flor and Roberto Rojas.

Councilors Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, Wilson Gamboa Jr., Napoleon Cordova, Catalino Alisbo and Reynold Iledan voted against it, while Councilor Alex Paglumotan abstained.

Rosellier Maalat, one of the lawyers of the Bacolod Real Estate Development Corporation that operates the port, said that once the ordinance becomes effective, they will file a complaint in court for violation of the Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and for declaration of nullity of the ordinance.

Councilor Dindo Ramos had said that because of the violation of some of the provisions of the ordinance for reclaiming the area, the city came up with an ordinance in order to assert its right as the owner of the port.

He said they will file their answer after BREDCO has filed the case.*CGS

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