CLEAN SWEEP: Treñas Allies Secure All 32 City Council Committee

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor and JP Jaen 

All 32 standing committees of the 12th Iloilo City Council have been assigned to councilors allied with Mayor Raisa Treñas, strengthening the majority bloc’s control and reducing the minority’s influence in the legislative body.

Vice Mayor Julie Grace “Love-Love” Baronda and Councilor Sheen Marie Mabilog, both from Team Sulong Gugma, were left without committee posts after a floor deliberation that lasted just over five minutes on Wednesday, July 9.

The resolution formalizing the committee assignments was passed without changes from a draft list that had already circulated a day prior.

On the floor, Baronda appealed to be given a chairmanship, expressing interest in leading the Committee on Disaster Relief and Management.

Mabilog also voiced her desire to chair at least one committee, specifically the Committee on Labor, Employment, Manpower Development and Placement, or the Committee on Education, Science and Technology.

She emphasized that a fairer distribution of committees would help the council function more effectively.

Mabilog also criticized some councilors for holding up to three committee chairmanships.

New councilor Jose Maria “Nene” Dela Llana responded that a councilor’s effectiveness is not defined by the number of committees they chair.

“A councilor can always be effective with or without a committee,” Dela Llana said. “This is always the majority rule. That’s how the cookie crumbles.”

Majority Floor Leader Rex Marcus Sarabia said the committee assignments can still be adjusted over the three-year term, citing past examples of term-sharing.

Sarabia revealed that Mabilog’s request was raised during their pre-session meeting but that incumbent committee heads opted to retain their posts.

He stressed that councilors can still serve their constituents even without heading a committee.

“I’m hoping Mabilog would also see that angle—that she can serve the city despite not having a chairmanship,” Sarabia said.

Baronda acknowledged the principle of “equity of the incumbent,” noting that she respects the practice of retaining current chairpersons.

She said she is open to term-sharing or serving as a committee member.

Without a chairmanship, Mabilog and Baronda will have no authority over committee agendas, hearings, or the prioritization of legislation in their areas of concern.

This limits their ability to influence committee discussions, initiate investigations, or advance key policy proposals.

They will also have reduced leverage to block or amend unfavorable measures at the committee level.

Committee Chairpersons:

Rex Marcus Sarabia

• Rules, Ordinances, Resolutions, and Style; Justice and Legal Affairs
• Personnel, Good Government and Public Accountability & Oversight (Blue Ribbon Committee)
• Appropriations

Johnny Young

• Engineering, Construction and Public Works
• Disaster Relief and Management
• Animal Welfare

Alan Zaldivar

• Health, Sanitation and Hospital Services
• Cooperatives and Livelihood
• Labor, Employment, Manpower Development and Placement

Sedfrey Cabaluna

• Police, Fire, Penology, Public Safety, Order, Security, Dangerous Drugs and Rehabilitation
• Transportation
• Communication and Public Information

Romel Duron

• Energy and Public Utilities
• Public Services, Environmental Protection and Ecology

Rudolph Jeffrey Ganzon

• Education, Science and Technology
• Trade, Commerce and Industry
• Domestic and International Relations

Mandrie Malabor

• Markets and Slaughterhouse
• Urban Poor, Human Rights and Minority Groups
• Moral Recovery

Miguel Treñas

• Tourism, Culture and Historical Affairs
• Urban Planning, Housing and Land Development, Zoning, Expropriation, Assessment and Land Acquisition
• Local Accreditation

Jose Maria “Nene” Dela Llana

• Social Services
• Information Technology and Computerization

Lyndon Acap

• Veterans, Retirees, Elderly and Disabled Persons
• Games, Amusement and Professional Sports

Frances Grace Parcon-Torres

• Women and Family Relations
• Agriculture, Fisheries, Aquatic and Natural Resources

Jelma Crystel Implica

• Youth and Sports Development

Maria Irene Ong

• Ways and Means
• Barangay Affairs and Community Development