Alcover calls out Osmeña after session gets heated

Local

A HEATED exchange between Cebu City Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña and Councilor Joel Garganera over the city’s garbage-management plan drew criticism from Councilor Jun Alcover.

Alcover accused the vice mayor of violating proper parliamentary conduct during the council’s regular session on Tuesday, Oct. 13.

In a statement accompanying a video of the confrontation, the councilor described Osmeña’s actions as “unparliamentary” and said he showed “NO GMRC,” or good manners and right conduct, when he interrupted Garganera’s privilege speech.

Alcover said Garganera had been asking for an update on Osmeña’s promised solution to the city’s garbage crisis when the argument erupted.

“Tomas threw the papers in front of Joel while he continued to deliver his privilege speech,” Alcover said.

He added that the incident disrupted the proceedings and escalated into an argument.

“He should have allowed Joel to finish and he could have answered afterward,” Alcover said.

The confrontation stemmed from Garganera’s demand for a report on a solid waste management plan that Osmeña had previously promised to prepare.

During his privilege speech, Garganera said 137 days had passed since Osmeña asked the council for 60 days to develop a solution to the city’s garbage problem.

Garganera questioned why the council had yet to receive a plan with clear targets and timelines for reducing or diverting waste.

“Without targets and timelines, we do not have a plan. We only have trucks and hauling bills to pay,” Garganera said.

The discussion turned heated when Osmeña interrupted Garganera to insist that he had already completed and submitted a proposal.

Garganera questioned whether the document had reached the council, while Osmeña maintained that it had been submitted to the council secretary. Garganera argued that the council had not received it and pressed Osmeña to explain the apparent delay.

Osmeña also questioned the cost of a separate waste-processing proposal, saying his earlier proposal was worth P250 million, compared with a newer proposal priced at P470 million.

When given the floor later in the session, Osmeña said his proposal was dated Jan. 29 and that he had completed his work within the period he had requested. He maintained that the city government, not the council, was responsible for implementing the project.

He alleged that the increase to P470 million was suspicious, arguing that the addition of automatic waste-segregation equipment did not justify the higher cost.

“I will defend the 250 million. It’s up to the Mayor to implement,” Osmeña said.

Councilor Harry Eran clarified during the discussion that the newer proposal included two automatic segregators alongside two pyrolysis machines.

He also said the P470-million proposal came from the project proponent, not from him, after Osmeña raised concerns about a possible anomaly.

No final decision on which proposal to pursue was established during the discussion.

Garganera, meanwhile, urged the city to move beyond its reliance on garbage collection and disposal and pursue longer-term solutions, including waste-to-energy technology, recycling, segregation and composting.

He also sought council action to obtain an update on the city’s proposed solid waste management plan, reports on the South Road Properties Eco-Station and a status report on the implementation of the city’s 10-year solid waste management plan.

The council approved his omnibus motion.

Alcover, for his part, said Osmeña should have waited until Garganera finished speaking before responding.

“I didn’t expect him to act like that knowing that he is a veteran politician,” Alcover said.

The councilor also criticized the conduct of council proceedings under Osmeña’s leadership, saying they had become more confusing.(TGP)