The 10th Sangguniang Panlungsod of Tagbilaran came out with a landmark legislation last Wednesday that will go down with the city council's legislative history.

We introduced the measure during the penultimate days of the previous city sanggunian but we decided to withdraw the same and re-introduced it last week. Our fellow city councilors welcomed the measure and backed it unanimously with some minor amendments.

The revolutionary amendment came at a time when the city council mourned the death of veteran city legislator, Jose I. Angalot who graced the hallowed halls of the city council for 20 years.

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During the enactment of the City's Administrative Code, part of the internal rules of the city council is for a motion which need not be seconded. The novel idea was introduced by former Vice Mayor, now Judge Jorge Cabalit.

He rationalized that a motion made by a city councilor is tacitly seconded by the city electorate who voted him into office.

This, in effect, is a defiance of the long established rules on parliamentary procedures. However, no city legislator dared to re-visit this principle.

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Until last Wednesday when we batted for the amendment of this rule, all motions made during the plenary level were immediately entertained by the presiding officer without the necessity of having a second to the motion.

With the approval of our proposed measure, all motions made in the floor during the sessions of the city council will need a second from now on. Otherwise, such motion is deemed to be defeated if there is no other member who will second it.

We hope Cabalit will understand our position in amending his novel idea.

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On Tuesday, SP members led by Vice Mayor Jose Antonio Veloso is slated to leave for Tagaytay City to undergo another round of legislative capability enhancement workshop in the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP).

The neophyte city councilors are more than willing to undergo the said workshop while the re-elected SP members also signified their intention to join the activity, if plans do not miscarry.

A special session will be held tomorrow afternoon to cover up for the regular session on Wednesday.

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Czar Amonsot arrived here yesterday afternoon after his unsuccessful bid of wresting the world crown from Michael Katsidis last Sunday in Las Vegas, Nevada.

City Mayor Dan Neri Lim received the Tagbilaran boxer at the city hall together with Tony Aldeguer of the famed ALA gym. Amonsot was accompanied by his 18-year old girlfriend from Mandaue City and was met at the city wharf by his mother and siblings.

The city mayor disclosed several plans to hone further Amonsot's boxing skills before letting him take another crack for the world title.

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