Newsman posted most number of ordinances at Angeles council
- Source:http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pampanga/local-news/2016/03/17/newsman-posted-most-number-ordinances-angeles-council-463131
- Sunday, March 20, 2016
- By Reynaldo G. Navales
ANGELES CITY -- Records at the Provincial Board here showed a journalist, seeking for a seat at the city council, was the topnotcher in accomplishments in terms of the number of ordinances and resolutions filed and passed when he was a member of the legislative body.
Jay Sangil, a journalist by profession who used to write for the Philippine Daily Inquirer, posted the most number of passed and approved resolutions and ordinances during his three stints in the city council. He authored a total of 230 legislative bills filed and approved by the City Council.
Sangil completed his three terms as topnotch councilor in 2004, 2007 and 2010. He was not as lucky in 2013 when he ran for vice-mayor. The journalist-turned-politician also wrote for MASA, Agence France Presse, Kyodo News Service, and The Angeles SUN.
Sangil chaired the Committees on Labor, Cooperative, Special Economic Zone, Public Works and Engineering, and Ways and Means.
As Labor Committee chair, he was able to solve various labor-management disputes such as the Golbon garment factory involving more than 700 workers who got their unpaid salaries and other benefits. Hundreds of workers in two companies in Clark Freeport Zone also got their benefits and delayed salaries due to his mediation role.
At least 50 employees of a restaurant and pub also won their case through his intercession while a Japanese manager accused of maltreatment by Filipino workers was deported when Sangil took the cudgels for the affected workers.
In the Public Works and Engineering bench, he exposed the substandard construction of several housing units at Northville 15, barangay Cutud where hundreds of families from eight barangays (Pulungbulo, Sto. Cristo, Lourdes Sur, Lourdes Sur East, CM Recto, Sta Teresita, Malabanas, Balibago) have been relocated. This prompted the NHA to institute corrective measures for the safety of thousands of residents.
Sangil also supported the building of classrooms, multi-purpose halls, barangay halls, roads and drainage, lighting projects for the city's 33 barangays. As Ways and Means committee chair, he also supported the city government's special programs and projects to help generate funds for the city’s coffers.
"Sa tulong po ng ating mga kababayan, mga kapwa konsehal mula 2004, tayo po ay nakapag pasa ng mga ordinansa at resolusyon na nakatulong sa ating mga kababayan at sa pag unlad ng ating lungsod Angeles," said Sangil.
Dozens of cooperatives, NGOs and other people's organizations were accredited when he assumed the committee on cooperative.
"Minsan po ay hindi naiiwasan na merong hindi pagkakaunawaan, debate sa mga issues, pero at the end of the day kami rin po ang magtutulungan para isulong ang kabutihan ng ating mamamayan at Lungsod Angeles," he added.
Some of the approved ordinances and resolutions spearheaded by Sangil involved measures on public safety and order such as requiring CCTV cameras on banks, pawnshop, malls, supermarkets, and other businesses, major streets and requiring telcos to install underground cabling eliminate spaghetti wires along major thoroughfares.
Some measures called for granting of privileges and additional benefits such as the percentage share of Persons with Disability in the city's annual budget. Other measures include:
Resolution urging the City Executive to grant Php1,500 increase on top of the regular monthly honorarium of Day Care workers, Barangay health workers, BSPO, BNS and additional allowances to all traffic aides and bantay bayan volunteers;
Resolution requiring operators/owners of all business establishment in Angeles City to accord their employees with mandatory privileges benefits and guaranteeing the provision of minimum wage as required by PD 442;
Resolution urging business owners in Angeles City and Clark Special Economic Zone to consider qualified applicants aged 30 years old and above in their hiring of personnel, so as not to be discriminated in their selection process;
Resolution urging Congress and Senate to craft a bill on the protection against E-load (electronic robbery) on telecommunications ie Smart, Globe, Sun, Talk and Text, among others affecting millions of cell phone users;
Resolution urging President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to fully develop Clark International Airport (CIAC) as the next premier gateway; and
Resolution requesting President Benigno Simeon Aquino III to push for a twin airport system that would allow the joint development of Clark International Airport and the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.