The 10th Sangguniang Panlungsod junked during its regular session last Monday the resolution sponsored by City Councilor Zenaido Rama seeking to look into the operations of the Botika sa Katawhan, a private undertaking duly recognized by the city government.

Ten city councilors voted against the resolution while only Rama and City Councilor Edgar Kapirig favored the resolution through a nominal voting. The city lawmakers then proceeded to approve a resolution lauding the Botika sa Katawhan ang urged City Mayor Dan Lim and Deputy Mayor Mario Uy to re-open it.

The regular session last Monday was witnessed by several beneficiaries of the Botika sa Katawhan including some barangay officials and heads of offices.

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The city council also approved two major pieces of legislation last Monday. One of which was a resolution authorizing Vice Mayor Jose Antonio S. Veloso to sign a Memorandum of Agreement with the Bureau of Local Government Development (BLGD) of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) for a joint computerization project. The resolution was sponsored by City Councilor Edi Borja.

Another resolution was passed authorizing the City Mayor to sign the loan agreement with the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) involving the amount of P4 million for the purchase of new vehicles as part of its re-fleeting program. City Councilor Oscar Glovasa, chair of the committee on appropriations and accounts, sponsored the resolution.

Borja also informed city councilors of the forthcoming national convention of the Philippine Councilors League in Manila next month.

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But despite the scapping of the Rama resolution by the city council last Monday, Uy disclosed that the Botika sa Katawhan could not be re-opened yet due to the documentary requirements by the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD).

Uy hinted that the same personalities who are moving against the Botika sa Katawhan could be behind the BFAD intervention. He said the local BFAD authorities already inspected the Botika sa Katawhan when it started operation several years ago.

This time, Uy bared that it is already the regional BFAD office which is requiring the Botika sa Katawhan to comply with the requirements.

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The deputy mayor said he will comply with the documentary requirements set by BFAD.
We do hope that the formal requirements could be complied in the earliest possible time so that the Botika sa Katawhan could be re-opened again.

In the meantime, the beneficiaries of the Botika sa Katawhan will have to suffer the consequences of this closure.

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