Sangguniang Panlungsod of Iligan City on its Regular sessions presided by Vice Mayor Wekwek Uy

 

 

Vice Mayor Ernest Oliver "Wekwek" Uy, Presiding Officer

By JUN ENRIQUEZ, Publisher-Editor

ILIGAN CITY - On July 15 session of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, City Councilor Rhandy L. Ong, Committee Chairman on Moral recovery and rehabilitation in his privilege speech during the privileged hour, he presented the issues and concerns regarding the online gaming, especially online “sabong” and other online games. Councilor Ong explained about the impact of online games which resulted into criminal acts, using illegal drugs during online gaming and scams which are not morally acceptable. City Councilor Bernard “Tete” Pacaña, Chairman of Games and Amusements, sponsored a resolution supporting the presentation of Councilor Ong on countering and preventing criminal acts in online gaming. Councilor Pacaña moved in mass motion, and was approved.  

Councilor Rhandy L. Ong

The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) on its regular session dated July 22, 2025, a Tuesday with 15 members of the council present headed by Vice Mayor Ernest Oliver “Wekwek” Uy, as presiding officer.  

The office of the Chief of staff headed by Mr.Jules Verne Padilla, under the office of the City Mayor, Federick W. Siao, who is also the alternate chairperson of the Iligan City council for Culture and Arts, endorses to the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) to pass a resolution to officially recognizing some major tourism sites in Iligan City as Cultural heritage sites.     

Quoted from the proposed resolution, there are about five tourism sites endorsed for a resolution to be officially recognized as Cultural Heritage sites for approval such as, Maria Cristina Falls, Tinago Falls, Mimbalot Falls, Agus river, and Macaraeg-Macapagal Ancestral House. 

Councilor Michelle Sweet

City Councilor Michelle Sweet, chairperson of Tourism, culture and heritage, sponsored the resolution to officially recognize the five Cultural Heritage sites for the first reading and was approved.  

In another development, City Councilor Derrick P. Siao, Chairman of the Committee on Infrastrucure; Social services; Information and Communication Technology, sponsored a resolution to ease traffic problems by having more infrastructure to address such problems in Iligan City, together with City councilor Simplicio “Pisyong” Larrazabal, chairman of the Traffic and Transportation as co-sponsor of the resolution ordinance. Councilor Siao also mentioned regarding the Asenso Iliganon Serbisyo caravan, said that the purpose of passing a resolution is to bring the services to the people in every barangay. In relation to the issues and concerns regarding the passing of a resolution sponsored by City councilor Providencio “Bong” Abragan, Jr., Chairman of the committee on Labor and OFW concern. Such a resolution is about the creation of a Department of Information and Communication Technology to make government services more effective to the people. Councilor Siao was a co-sponsor of the said resolution. 

Councilor Derrick Siao

City Councilor Marlene L. Young, Committee chairman of the committees on Trade, commerce and Industry; Energy; Land use plan and development; and Urban poor. Councilor Young sponsored and  passed a resolution entitled, Resolution Adopting Barangay Resolution No. 24-76, series of 2024 of Tipanoy, entitled, “A Resolution Requesting the office of the City Mayor Frederick W, Siao to allocate funds in the Amount of Six Million Five Hundred Thousand Pesos for the proposed concreting of roadwith proper drainage system at Purok 4, Upper Pindugangan, Particularly at Spiriatan Academy Roadway, Tipanoy, Iligan City” and endorsing the same to the City Engineer’s Office”. The said resolution was passed and approved, but not by the chairman of Barangay Affairs Committee to sponsor the said resolution which is unethical in nature.

SP Regular session

In some observations, members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) on its sessions must observe decorum, in which behavior that people consider to be correct, polite, and respectable, especially  in passing a resolution through a committee chairmanship, and adhere ethical standards such are principles that guide behavior and decision-making, promoting values like trust, fairness and honesty in lawmaking.  (With reports by Jenifer Bagonbon, Digital-Mobile Journalist)

 

 

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)   

 

Rido settlement means Clan feud ends, transformation to Peace prevails in Pualas, Lanao del Sur

 

Rituals of Muslim prayers during the Rido settlement. 

 

By JUN ENRIQUEZ, Publisher-Editor

Pualas, Lanao del Sur - A Rido settlement of clan feuds was conducted in Sitio Tanaon, Bargy Dapao, Pualas, Lanao del Sur on July 15, 2025, a land mark peacebuilding event actively participated by the 51st Infantry (FUERTO UNO) Battalion to prevail peace by ending clan feuds. The said rido settlement was attended by and between the Base commander Samin Pamaloy and former Base commander Abu Salman Macanaic Pamaloy, both of the 126th MILF base command.

The conflict rooted in a series of incidents originated in 2021 that include shootings, killings, and burning of houses, which remarkably disrupted peace and security in the affected community, but now has been peacefully resolved through traditional means of reconciliation.

This significant milestone was achieved through the steadfast collaboration of various local, traditional, and religious leaders, who demonstrated exemplary unity and commitment to peace.

Among the instrumental figures in the traditional peace process were Atty. Pangalian Balindong, Speaker of the Bangsamoro Parliament; Hon. Alinader Dagar M. Balindong, Former Mayor of Malabang, Lanao del Sur; Hon. Yasser A. Balindong, Congressman of the 2nd District, Lanao del Sur; Hon. Amin D. Balindong, Mayor, Malabang, Lanao del Sur; Hon. Mesron D. Balindong, Mayor, Picong, Lanao del Sur; Hon. Al-Ihsan Mama Ibrahim, Mayor, Pualas, Lanao del Sur.

The concerted efforts of the stakeholders from different municipalities reflect the power of collective leadership and the importance of sustaining peace through indigenous mechanisms and community-based dialogue. 

The resolution underscores the growing mindset shift from armed confrontation to a peaceful dialogue as the preferred means of addressing individual and clan-based feuds. The event also emphasized the importance of preserving Maranao cultural traditions in settling disputes rejecting outdated practices that perpetuate violence and bring chaos and havoc to the invloved individuals, clans, and the community as a whole.

Moreover, this settlement reaffirms the unity among MILF members, who remain steadfast in their support for lasting peace. Contrary to fears and division, the involved parties demonstrated their will to build a more stable and progressive community which marks another step forward in aligning local initiatives with broader peace and development goals.

"We achieve dignity in forgiveness, and strength in unity", said Bangsamoro Parliament Speaker Atty. Pangalian M. Balindong.  

The #TeamStrongOne affirms its continued commitment to supporting peaceful conflict resolution, community reconciliation, and strengthening local security through paceful and diplomatic means. The successful settlement is a testament to enduring value of cultural respect, dialogue and collaboration in addressing the causes of conflict as its roots. (With reports from Press release by 51st IB PA Information Team; Jenifer Bagonbon, Digital-Mobile Journalist)