LOGO STIR: VM’s push for official City Council logo, mace blocked on first reading

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

An ordinance seeking to formally recognize the Iloilo City Council’s longstanding logo and establish its official mace and correspondence protocols was halted at first reading, after the majority block turned down Vice Mayor Julie Grace “Love-Love” Baronda’s proposal.

Baronda explained that the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) prompted her to pass the ordinance, so that the agency may formally recognize the city council’s identity.

The vice mayor said among the lapses pointed out by the DILG is the lack of an official logo, mace, address, and established communication protocols.

“It seems that we’re the only highly urbanized city that does not have a mace. That is why I want to pass this ordinance so that we can institutionalize the different protocols here, especially the correspondence,” she said.

While the City Council has its logo, Baronda stressed that no resolution or ordinance recognizes it, saying that formal adoption is required before the DILG central office can officially acknowledge it — an absence that, she warned, could cost the Council points in the DILG’s Local Legislative Award.

“Public engagement and information flow heavily on digital platforms. Therefore, it is essential that our legislative body and the Sangguniang Panlungsod uphold clear, unified, and secure communication channels to strengthen the identity and transparency of the City Council,” she added.

The proposal, however, failed to advance after Baronda lost the vote on first reading. Councilor Sheen Marie Mabilog, an ally of Baronda, was the presiding officer after being elected by the majority bloc to replace the vice mayor.

Baronda moved for reconsideration after her measure was rejected.

“I don’t see any reason why we will not pass this, or support it because it is our mandate. We are the only city that does not have an official mace and logo,” she said.

But Councilor Rex Marcus Sarabia countered that the SP already has “an existing official logo for the Iloilo City Council that was used time immemorial.”

“I don’t think we would have to establish an ordinance, especially if it would change the fundamental character of the existing logo,” he explained.

Baronda clarified that the proposal does not introduce a new logo but merely seeks to formally recognize the one already in use.

Councilor  Nene Dela Llana questioned whether the ordinance is “necessary, beneficial, and practical.”

“What is the greater evil that we need to avoid? Why do we need to have a logo? We already have a logo that we are using,” he said, adding that the City Council has received numerous awards even without a formally adopted emblem.

Councilor Mandrie Malabor pointed out that the Baronda’s ordinance embraces several subjects, which violates the rule that a law or ordinance should deal with only one subject.

The majority bloc eventually agreed that Baronda should refile the proposal with complete documents for proper evaluation.