Proem

In the Province of Kalinga-Apayao, Luzon, the Lubluagan tribe obtained a permit from DepEd to use their language as a medium of instruction from grades 1 to 3. As a result, the Lubluagans topped the regional evaluation examination conducted.

To ride on with the proven result, the Provincial Board of Cebu passed a resolution requesting DepEd to allow Sugboanon Bisaya as a medium of instruction in Cebu province for grades 1 to 3.

You can teach only what you know. So the school teachers in Kalinga-Apayao were first trained in their language before they taught classes. In like manner, the school teachers in Cebu must first be trained. At present, the school teachers in Cordova, Cebu are ready. They have studied for one year already. However, the other towns in Cebu have not trained their school teachers. It is not easy to let go of the English grammar and shift to Bisayan grammar. In addition, the teachers have to learn about 10,000 new words in Bisaya to straighten their colloquial Bisaya. So the earlier the training, the better will be the result.

Quorum (Sarang)

A quorum (sarang) is the specified number of members specified by the by-laws to be present in a meeting in order to make a meeting official and legal. It is not specified in the by-laws, the usual number is one-half plus one of the membership. It is called simple majority.

Ang sarang (quorum) mao ang gidaghanon nga sakop nga gitumbok sa sumbanang-balaod sa mga sakop nga manambong sa tigom aron maminatuod ug mabinala?d ang tigom. Kun walâ kini matúmbok, ang sagad nga gidaghanon mao ang katungâ sa ngatanan dugangan ug usa. Mao kini ang gitawag og yanong uda-uda.

The quorum will be known after the secretary (kalihim) will call the roll (tawag sa talaan).

If at the start of the meeting a quorum is not attained, the Presiding Officer (Tigdumalang Punoan) will declare (padayág) the meeting as adjourned (tapos na ang tigom).

Why (Ngano)? It is because no official business can be transacted (Tungod kay walay minatuod nga igsapayan nga matukî).

How To Question a Quorum

It is possible that at the start of the meeting a quorum was attained. However, during the progress of the meeting, many members left the meeting hall (tigomán).

When a motion (hanyag) or a proposal (busla) is to be voted (Bis: ilim; Sp: Voto) any member can question the quorum (sukót sa sarang).

For example (pananglitan): Members X (Sakop X) can say "Mister Chairman, do we have a quorum? (Ginong Alimpay, aduna ba kitay sarang?) The Chairman will either personally count or have the roll called by the Secretary. (Ang Alimpay kinaugalingon nga moihap o ipatawag sa Kalihim ang talaan).

If the members are within the premises, the Chairman will let the Sergeant-at-arms recall them. (Kun ang mga sakop anaa lang sa silinganan, ipatawag sila sa Alimpay pinaagi sa Tigbantay sa Kalinaw).

If there is no more quorum and the members could not be recalled, the motion could not be voted upon and the Chairman will be forced to adjourn the meeting. (Kun walay sarang, ug ang mga sakop dili na mahimong ipatawag pagbalik, dilì kailiman ang hanyag, ug mapugos ang Alimpay sa pagtápos sa tigom).

Will the Chairman Vote?

Will the Presiding Officer (Tigdumalang Punoan) or Chairman (Alimpay) vote (ilim)?

According to the rules, the Chairman could not vote except in the following cases: (Matod pa sa latid, ang Alimpay dilì makaílim gawas niining mosunod nga mga kahis:
a) To break a tie (Pagbuak sa patas). When there is a tie-vote, the Chairman can vote for or against the motion to break the tie. (Kun adunay patas nga ilim, ang Alimpay makaílim dapig o supak sa hanyag aron mabuak ang patas). However, the Chairman cannot vote to create a tie. (Hinunóa, dili makailim ang Alimpay aron paghimo og patas).

b) To participate in a percentage voting. (Pagsalmot sa sihâ nga ilim). For example, to overrule the veto of the Mayor, the Sanggunian needs two-thirds vote (2/3) in favor to overrule the veto. (Pananglit, aron pagwákdas sa pagdumili sa Pamuno Lungsod, kinahanglan ang duha ka sikatulo (2/3) nga ilim uyon sa pagwákdas).

Because the Presiding Officer is part of the whole in computing the percentage, he is allowed to vote. (Tungod kay ang Tigdumalang Punoan apil man sa tibuok sa pagkalangkalang sa sihâ, gitugotan siya sa pag-ílim).