19th Council of Iligan City holds its first regular session in July headed by the newly elected Vice Mayor Ernest Oliver “Wekwek” Uy

Newly elected Vice Mayor Ernest Oliver "Wekwek" Uy

 By JUN ENRIQUEZ, Publisher-Editor

 ILIGAN CITY – The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) of the 19^th council of Iligan City was headed by the newly elected Vice Mayor Ernest Oliver “Wekwek” Uy. Known as Wewek, he was elected in May 2025 elections by the majority of the people in Iligan City and the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) of Iligan City declared him as the winning candidate.

Just recently, the office of re-elected Congressman Celso Regencia of the Lone district of Iligan City requested a meeting with the re-elected Mayor Frederick W. Siao, for a comprehensive development of Iligan City. The main agenda of the said meeting was about the Economic Zone that will make Iligan City become more developed. In this regard, Vice Mayor Wekwek Uy said that he appreciated the said meeting and his interest will be the bridge of the two leaders to become more effective in terms of development programs in Iligan City.

(L-R) Vice Mayor Uy, Mayor Siao & Cong. Regencia

Vice Mayor Uy as presiding officer, conducted their first regular session on July 8, 2025, Tuesday afternoon, to assign all the SP members for the committee chairmanships in 39 committees for the 12 SP regular members to handle 2-3 committees per member. There are about 3 ex-officio members to handle one committee each of them.   

Councilor Nhicolle Capangpangan

The assignments of committees is based on the ranking per election results, the Chairman, Vice Chairman and a member, from number one to twelve elected councilors.

First, Nhicolle B. Capangpangan is the chairman of the committees on Ethics, Domestic and International/ Sister City relations, and Justice and Human Rights; Second, Thomas Derrick P. Siao is the chairman of the committees on Public Works and Infrastructure, Social Services, and Information and communication technology; Third, Providencio A. Abragan, Jr., is the chairman of the committees on Labor and OFW concern, Laws and Good governance, and senior citizens and veterans affairs; Fourth, Bernard Y. Pacaña is the chairman of the committees on Peace and order, Security, and Dangerous drugs, Solid waste management, Games and amusement, Economic enterprise;

Councilor Michelle Sweet-Booc

Fifth, Michelle Sweet-Booc is the chairman of the committees on Women and Gender development, Tourism, culture and heritage, Cooperatives and livelihood; Sixth, Marlene L. Young is the chairman of the committees on Trade, commerce and Industry, Energy, Land use plan and Development and Urban poor; Seventh, Samuel P.Huertas is the chairman of the committees on Environment, Marginalized sector and differently-Abled persons, Water; Eighth, Vincenro King C. Belmonte, is the chairman of the committees on Education, Census statistics and population, Sports and recreation; Ninth, Ian C. Uy, is the chairman of the committees on Agriculture and food, Government Assets and properties; Tenth, Rhandy L. Ong, is the chairman of the committees on Research Projects and feasibility studies, Moral recovery and rehabilitation, City-owned real properties; Eleventh, Ramil C. Emborong, is the chairman of the committees on Ways and means, Franchise, permits and licenses, Disaster risk reduction and management, Public affairs and information; Twelfth, Simplicio N. Larrazabal, III, Chairman of the committee on Transportation and traffic management, Health and Sanitation, Finance and appropriations.

Ex-officio members of the council, Thirteenth, Cesarve C. Siacor, ABC President, Chairman of the committee on Barangay Affairs; Fourteenth, Sultan Renandang M. Comonog, Indigenous People Mandatory Representative (IPMR), Chairman of the committee on Indigenous people; Fifteenth, Trix Mikyla L. Caballero, Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Federated President, Chairman of the committee on Youth.      

Second Regular session of the Iligan City Council Presided by Vice Mayor Wekwek Uy

On the second regular session dated July 15, 2025, a Tuesday, presided by Vice Mayor Oliver “Wekwek” Uy, passed a number of resolutions during the session. There were about 36 resolutions passed concerning related issues on hiring of legal consultants, renewal of appointments of department managers, Barangay development funds, environmental concerns, traffic issues, endorsements of concerns to the Mayor’s office, Social, education, energization, stop online gambling, Disaster risk reduction, athletics, Infrastructure, approval of ordinances, Indigenous Knowledge, among others.    

The session lasted for about one and a half hours average time, with the energetic Vice Mayor Oliver “Wekwek” Uy as presiding Officer of the council sessions. (with reports by JENIFER BAGONBON, Digital-Mobile Journalist)