Those who voted yes were Councilors Karlo Bello, Louie John Bonguyan, Paolo Duterte, Halila Sudagar, Leonardo Avila III, Victorio Advincula, Danilo Dayanghirang, Edgar Ibuyan, Samuel Bangoy, Jose Louie Villafuerte, Angela Librado, Rachel Zozobrado, Myrna Ortiz, Mabel Acosta, Nilo Abellera, Diosdado Mahipus, Wilberto Al-ag, and Tomas Monterverde.
Councilors Susan Isabel Reta, Peter Lavina, Tessie Maranon, and Pilar Braga voted no, and Conde Baluran and Dante Apostol abstained.
Librado, the proponent, was busy answering queries from her fellow councilors regarding some of the plan’s provisions as Catholic groups held a picket outside the Sangguniang Panlungsod building.
Mahipus said he wanted to make sure the plan will not promote promiscuity and premarital sex as Archbishop Fernando Capalla said in a pastoral letter.
The councilor noted that some provisions were "vague and too general" and suggested that these be made specific so that "the fear of the good monsignor (Capalla) and others would be removed.”
He said he is "disturbed by the statement of the monsignor that the plan belittles the family."
Librado countered fears the plan would promote promiscuity was only in the bishop's mind.
She assured it was "not and never the intention of the city council to promote sexual promiscuity."
The councilor said the plan does not tackle the issue of chastity, adding it is the duty of the church not the city council to promote its value.
Chapter 3, however, of the plan provides that the Davao Chaplain Office, City Social Services Development Office, and the Department of Education will take charge of values reorientation for adults and character building for children.
Librado said the plan may sound vague if only the first part is read.
She suggested reading the plan in its entirety so that the general provisions would be clarified.
Librado said the plan incorporates the parents’ participation, is character based, and the value and culture of the Filipino family is highlighted.
As suggested by Avila, the amendments to the plan included increasing the budget for the parenting courses from P60,000 per year to P1 million per year and the budget for sports to P3 million a year. (MindaNews)
