Tension Rises as Iloilo Vice Mayor, Councilor Clash Over Rules

By Mariela Angella Oladive

Iloilo City Vice Mayor Jeffrey Ganzon urged members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) to strictly follow parliamentary procedures during their session on Thursday, Jan. 30, after a brief but tense exchange over the city’s updated 10-year solid waste management plan.

During deliberations, Ganzon reminded Councilor Nick Baronda to observe proper protocols after Baronda spoke without being formally recognized. The reminder came as Baronda raised concerns about the proposed plan, urging council members to carefully review the documents before granting approval.

Baronda emphasized the need for informed decision-making, particularly regarding potential clerical errors in the plan’s text. He pointed out discrepancies, such as the mislabeling of “PPA”, which the document identified as the Philippine Ports Authority, when in context, it should have referred to “Programs, Projects, and Activities.”

In a separate interview, Ganzon described the incident as a simple reminder for council members to follow parliamentary rules to ensure smooth and productive discussions.

“I was just reminding the council that we must observe proper procedures. It is important to maintain decorum and respect the process to avoid unnecessary interruptions,” Ganzon said.

Tension briefly flared during the deliberation as Ganzon, the presiding officer, called out Baronda for allegedly disregarding internal rules. The exchange occurred while the council discussed the approval of Iloilo City’s solid waste management plan, prompting Ganzon’s intervention.

Ganzon reiterated that his response was not meant to single out any member but to uphold order in legislative proceedings. He emphasized the importance of structure and discipline to facilitate efficient decision-making within the council.