• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The P6 million legislative office of the Isabela municipal government in Negros Occidental has been completed.
Isabela Mayor Irene Montilla disclosed Wednesday that the appropriations for the legislative office came from savings of the 2021 in the amount of P1.5 million, and P4.5 million from the 2023 budget.
Montilla and her son, Vice Mayor Juan Miguel Montilla, led the inauguration of the new Isabela Sanggunian Bayan hall, which was blessed by Fr. Roger Aliligay.
With the completion of the new Isabela SB hall, Montilla said she is hoping that the members of the Sangguniang Bayan will be able to come up with ordinances that will be beneficial to the people, especially the marginalized sector.
I want them to review previous ordinances, update and digitize them to modernize the legislative works, and come up with legislation that will help the community, the mayor said.
Vice Mayor Montilla said the new legislative office will inspire the municipal councilors to work more for the benefit of the people.
Our legislative cornerstone would be speedy, relevant, and applicable to the current times, he added.
On the other hand, Teresita “Dayku” Sinceda, an Ati leader, is the new member of the municipal council. She is the first Indigenous People’s mandatory representative to become a member of the Isabela Sangguniang Bayan.
Mayor Montilla stressed the need to have IPs representation in the municipal council, noting that significant numbers of IPs are residing in eight Isabela barangays.
Sinceda was appointed by the IP community to represent them in the council.
Vice Mayor Montilla said the appointment of Sinceda was the first in the 5th district of Negros Occidental, where IPs are represented in the council.*
