Barug-Kusug tightens grip on Cebu City Council, takes key committees

CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Barug-Kusug coalition tightened its control of the 17th Cebu City Council after securing chairmanships of nearly all major committees that oversee the city’s budget, laws, infrastructure, planning, public services and other key legislative functions.

The committee assignments, finalized after the council organized its standing committees, further consolidated the alliance’s dominance following its earlier capture of the council’s top leadership positions during the inaugural session.

With control of the Committee on Budget and Finance, Committee on Laws, Committee on Infrastructure, Committee on Urban Planning, and several other high-profile panels, the Barug-Kusug majority now holds significant influence over legislation, appropriations, oversight, and policy-making in the city’s legislative branch.

Only four councilors received no committee chairmanships: Councilors Michelle Abella-Cellona, Jose Abellanosa, Alvin Arcilla, and Sisinio Andales—all members of the minority bloc.

READ: Barug, Kusug clinch Cebu City Council majority in 17th SP

Majority consolidates power

Leading the committee assignments, Councilor David Tumulak now chairs the influential Committee on Budget and Finance while also heading the Committee on Disaster Risk Reduction Management, Safety and Climate Change Adaptation and the Committee on Health, Hospitals, Services and Sanitation.

Councilor Mikel Rama secured two of the council’s most consequential legislative panels by chairing the Committee on Laws, Ordinances and Styling and the Committee on Housing. He also serves as vice chairman of the Committee on Scholarship Program.

READ: 17th Cebu City Council set to reshuffle key posts, committee chairs

Councilor Edgardo Labella II now leads the Committee on Infrastructure and the Committee on Information and Communication Technology (ICT), placing him at the center of discussions involving public works and digital governance.

Councilor Harold Kendrick Go chairs the Committee on Urban Planning, the Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship, and the Committee on Labor, Employment, Cooperative and Livelihood.

Councilor Harry Eran heads the Committee on Public Services, while Councilor Joel Garganera chairs the Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Energy.

Other key committee assignments

Several other Barug-Kusug councilors also landed multiple committee chairmanships.

Councilor Pastor Alcover Jr. chairs the committees on Markets, Agriculture and Rural Development, Games and Amusement, and Senior Citizens Affairs. He also serves as vice chairman of the Labor Committee.

Councilor Winston Pepito heads both the Committee on Transportation, Communication and Other Utilities and the Committee on Women, LGBTQ and Family Affairs.

Councilor Franklyn Ong chairs the Committee on Education, Science and Technology as well as the Committee on Barangay Affairs.

Councilor Philip Zafra, who serves as President Pro Tempore, chairs the Committee on Scholarship Program, the Committee on Animal Welfare, and the Committee on House Rules and Oversight.

Councilor Rhea Mae Jakosalem heads the Committee on Youth and Sports Development, while Councilor Nyza Archival chairs the committees on Tourism, Arts and Culture, and Sister Cities Relations and Big Brother Program.

Councilor Pablo Labra II chairs the Committee on Public Order.

Leadership remains with majority

The committee assignments complement the Barug-Kusug coalition’s control of the council leadership.

Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña presides over the legislative body as its presiding officer.

Councilor Philip Zafra serves as President Pro Tempore, while Councilor Winston Pepito acts as Majority Floor Leader. Councilors Joel Garganera and Pancrasio Esparis serve as first and second assistant majority floor leaders, respectively.

The minority bloc remains under Councilor Sisinio Andales as Minority Floor Leader, with Councilor Alvin Arcilla serving as Assistant Minority Floor Leader.

Strategic advantage

The latest committee lineup gives the Barug-Kusug alliance control over nearly all committees responsible for reviewing appropriations, city infrastructure projects, land use and planning, legislation, public services, disaster management, transportation, environment, education, and economic development.

Committee chairpersons determine hearing schedules, set legislative priorities, evaluate proposed ordinances and resolutions, and lead oversight of executive departments within their jurisdictions, giving the majority bloc substantial influence over the council’s agenda.

The distribution also reflects the political realignment that emerged after the May elections, when the six-member Partido Barug and six-member Kusug alliance joined forces to form the council majority, leaving the six-member Bando Osmeña–Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) in the minority despite Vice Mayor Osmeña serving as the council’s presiding officer.

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