by Rene V. Carbayas
ISABELA CITY, Basilan, Dec 25 (PIA) – Employees of the local government of Lamitan City took some time off to celebrate Christmas as they compete in groups for the best Christmas presentation at Datu Dizal Cultural Center Tuesday.
City Information officer Felipe Fernando disclosed that the clustered group composed of the Agriculture, Civil Registry and Mayor’s offices won first place in the Christmas presentation with the prize of P10,000.00. The City Health won the second prize of P7,000.00 while the clustered Treasury, Assessor and Market offices won third prize of P5,000.00. Other offices received consolation of P1,000.00 each.
The festive mood of the Yuletide season, however, could not stop some Lamiteños to express their concern over the current impeachment proceedings of Chief Justice Corona and its implication on the cityhood of Lamitan.In his welcome remarks, City Councilor Joaquin P. Puri Jr. was optimistic that the present impeachment case against CJ Corona will not affect the decision of the court because it is final and executory.
“It was an en banc decision of the justices in court and his (Chief Justice Corona) participation was just to concur,” the councilor explained.
In the articles of impeachment, the infamous conversion of 16 municipalities into cities (where Lamitan is included) were among the eight reasons for the complaint filed against Chief Justice Renato Corona whose decision apparently favors for their conversion.
The City Mayor Roderick H. Furigay also gave his opinion about the present status of the cityhood of Lamitan.“The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) is now pressuring us to submit the 2012 annual city budget which was already approved by the Sangguniang Panlungsod Monday,” the mayor said, adding that the DBM requires the submission of the approved budget to take effect the release of city Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) next year.
Meanwhile, the mayor also gave away Christmas cash gifts of Php.10,000.00 per department in the local government. Casual employees also received P500.00 each from the mayor’s personal pocket. The Productivity Incentive Bonus (PIB) is said to be released next week to the city officials and employees. (PIA9-ZBST with reports from Felipe Fernando)