‘SMALL AND CRAMPED’: Baronda Pushes Exclusive Use of New Legislative Building

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

Iloilo City Vice Mayor Lady Julie Grace “Love-Love” Baronda said the newly built legislative building be reserved solely for legislative functions due to limited space and the increasing number of offices under the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP).

On Tuesday, July 1, Baronda said her office is “very small,” and other offices are “cramped,” with some lacking adequate storage for documents and archives.

“Now that we have a legislative building, it is better if we use it according to its purpose—legislative functions, holding of sessions, and committee hearings for the activities of our city councilors,” she said.

The eight-story legislative building was allocated for various offices based on a June 11 assignment memo issued by former Mayor Jerry Treñas:

• Ground floor:Office of the Building Official
• Second floor:Offices of five city councilors
• Third floor:Offices of three councilors and executive assistants of the mayor
• Fourth floor:Canteen
• Fifth floor:Offices of five councilors, SP Secretariat, and SP administrative offices
• Sixth floor:Vice Mayor’s Office, SP supplies, and part of the SP Secretariat
• Seventh floor:Session hall
• Eighth floor:To be assigned by the Office of the Building Administrator

Baronda noted she authored and sponsored the ordinance signifying no objection from the City Council to the construction of the building.

“I reviewed their proposals thinking that a legislative building, by its name, is intended for legislative functions,” she said.

Citing Section 455 (b)(1)(ix) of the Local Government Code of 1991, Baronda acknowledged the mayor’s authority to allocate office spaces in city-owned or leased buildings.

However, she plans to formally request more space for the SP Secretariat, which currently has over 80 employees.

“The existing room can only accommodate about 30 people,” she said.

She also emphasized that the session hall should be treated as a “sacred space,” used strictly for plenary sessions.

Baronda recalled that due to a lack of conference rooms at City Hall, committee hearings were often held in the session hall.

She met with city councilors on Tuesday afternoon to prepare for the inaugural session of the 12th City Council scheduled for Wednesday, July 2.

She added that the councilors are united in lobbying Mayor Raisa Treñas-Chu to address the office space shortage.

Baronda said the council will not discuss committee chairmanships during the inaugural session.

Instead, the agenda includes the election of the minority floor leader and assistant floor leader.