After eight members of the Iloilo City Sangguniang Panlungsod earlier passed a resolution declaring a “State of Calamity” over Iloilo City during a special session, Iloilo City Councilor Lady Julie Grace Baronda, who was not among the eight said city officials, recently declined the challenge to a debate from fellow City Councilor Joshua Alim.

“It’s water under the bridge,” she said, noting, the “proper agencies” will make a decision.

The city official added, a letter has already been submitted to Iloilo City Mayor Jose Espinosa III and all department heads regarding the matter, claiming, the eight city councilors in question violated RA 10121, or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010.

She accused them of “deliberately using false and inflated data in support of request for funding.”

“Sila lang makasiling who is right (The concerned agencies will declare who is right,” Baronda stated.

Earlier, Alim presented the challenge, saying, “I feel so uncomfortable and irritated every time I heard these absentee councilors talk about calamity issue over the radio.”

“I challenge them to come here and have a debate,” he affirmed.

Last month, Iloilo City Councilors R Leone Gerochi, Eduardo Peñaredondo, Candice Magdalane Tupas, Leizl Zulueta-Salazar, Mandrie Malabor, Lyndon Acap, Plaridel Nava, and Alim passed a passed resolution declaring a “State of Calamity” over the city due to ongoing El Niño conditions, which AccuWeather describes as a climate pattern that raises sea temperatures in the Pacific Ocean and results in drought conditions due to reduced rainfall./WDJ