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Mitra new PCSDS Chairman

                                                                      Alex S. Marcaida                                                                 PCSDS, Media Bureau Chief

     In the recent PCSD meeting, held at PSDTI, Bgy. Irawan, this City, Gov. Abraham Kahlil B. Mitra, was unanimously voted as the new Chairman of the PCSD. His nomination was uncontested. This is the second time where Mitra held the key to the seat with his first in 2004-2007.

    Mitra thanked the members for the renewed trust and confidence afforded him, and assured a more dynamic Council in his term. He also enjoined the support of all so the Council may perform its task as mandated by law. His’ will be a leadership of shared responsibility that will focus on policies and programs pursuing sustainable development sewed to touch lives of the Palawenos.  PCSD meetings, he said, will not only happen in Puerto Princesa or Manila but PCSD must be brought closer to the people thus venues of meetings maybe done in municipalities so specific field issues may be dealt with. 

Elected as Vice chairman was the former vice governor of Palawan Atty. David A. Ponce de Leon, co- author of the SEP Law.

Earlier on, formers  Vice Gov. David A. Ponce de Leon,  Gov. Joel T. Reyes, Cong. Vicente Sandoval and Sec. Alfredo Abueg took their oath as new members of the Council. This is dictated by the PCSD Operations Manual that designates the membership to include the author of the SEP Law, and past Chairmen of the PCSD. The Hon. Vice Gov. Clara “Fems” Reyes also took her oath representing the Provincial Council.

The designation of Ponce de Leon, JTReyes, and Sandoval is not an “appointment” thus  cannot be covered by the constitutional ban, specifically Art. IX, Sec. 6 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution: “no candidates who has lost in any election shall, within one year after such election, be appointed to any office in the governmentxxx”.

It must be recalled that this matter was earlier referred to the PCSD by then Vice Gov. Ponce de Leon, and in its opinion, the Legal Service Division of the PCSD staff, indicated that this cannot be covered by the constitutional ban as it is not an “appointment”... “appointment is the selection by the proper authority of an individual who is to exercise the functions of an office. When completed, the appointment results in security of tenure for the person chosen”. In this case, being member of the PCSD does not imply security of tenure, and is not completed via confirmation of the Civil Service Commission (CSC), further, being a member does not afford one a basic salary for the services rendered. Thus, the constitutional ban does not apply. This opinion was concurred by the PCSD in its June 2010 meeting.

Likewise, in a separate opinion, during a radio interview, CSC representative clarified that Ponce de Leon, Reyes, and Sandoval cannot be covered by the ban precisely because it is not an appointment to government service. The definition of “appointment” is clearly stipulated in the CSC Omnibus Rule V.

With this, the PCSD believes that the oath taking and re-entry of the concerned members in its last meeting have been proper and in order.

Unexpectedly Cordial!

Many observers expect that the 169th meeting of the PCSD in July of 2010 would have been a meeting filled with acrobatic emotions driven by firework of heated arguments. The election for the chairmanship post triggers it all. A post that many thought, is a very powerful position thus highly contested.

Days before, the air surrounding PCSD have been pregnant with wild expectations: suppressed, untold but crisp.

Large spaces on tabloids have been reserved for a controversial story. The airwaves cues have been reinforcing: that it would be a close battle between Gov. Mitra and Cong. Antonio C. Alvarez, and that eyes stared at the members as to whom will they side, and that a letter of desire from the President of the land might spoil it all. Many indeed thought it would be a meeting inside an oven at full intensity. Speculations are just contagious and prolonged not until the day has come.

Fortunately, the meeting did not make it to the scandalous headlines. It disappointed “mongerers, and bystanders who love political squabbles”. The sarsuela did not happen. It was in fact a cordial and cool sharing of opinions, discussions and decision making. It went just well.

The PCSD discussion started with a close-door caucus at 1:30, and the formal meeting started at 2pm with former governor and chairman of PCSD Joel T. Reyes pounding the gavel.

Cong. Alvarez took the first shot on the microphone and in a cool low pitched tune he said, much that he would have wanted to be chairman of the PCSD, he recognizes the recent decision of the Court of Appeals implying that membership of “Congressional Representatives in the council is unconstitutional for it cannot hold two incompatible positions in government at the same time, other than exercising their oversight function... “ while this decision is not yet final, for delicadeza, Cong. Alvarez tendered his “leave of absence” from the PCSD. His nota beni however indicates that if the final decision of the Court will be on their favour, then he would be happy to get back to the PCSD. He mentioned though, that he will still be attending the PCSD meeting from time to time to exercise their congressional oversight function.

In the same manner, Cong. Dennis Socrates, opined that for the same reason, he will not take his oath not until the Court will render a favourable decision with finality.

With this, Sec. Abueg only had the finest words “the gestures of the two gentlemen is truly an act of a high-calibre statesmanship”.

Ponce de Leon likewise hailed the gesture of Alvarez and Socrates. It was at this point where the temperature in the hall shifted down fast. It has transformed to a sight of a family reunion of the former members with the new, where one would only have the best words for each other.

Oath taking followed and the election for the new chairman proceeded, with Mitra taking the chairmanship and Ponce de Leon as vice. And the meeting proceeded thru the agenda with Mitra now holding the gavel.

About 33 various project applications endorsed (SEP Clearance) with two mining applications deferred for further review of the Legal, Environment and Tribal committees. The meeting closed at 7pm with members wearing a smile as they get out of the hall.

Next meeting was set on August 27 in Cuyo, Palawan.