Negros Oriental PB carries out revamp of committee chairs

DUMAGUETE CITY , Philippines  - A number of Negros Oriental Provincial Board members were stripped of their respective committee chairmanship, following a decision of the majority bloc for a revamp allegedly due to the entry of new members last week.

Ex-officio PB Member Arnulfo Teves Jr., of the Association of Barangay Captains, motioned to declare the chairmanship and composition of standing committees vacant, a major issue that was not disclosed in the agenda distributed to the PB members and caught the minority bloc off-guard.

Removed from their chairmanships were PB Member Jessica Koppin (1st district) of the education committee, Georgita Martinez (1st dist.) of the agriculture committee, and Edmund Dy (3rd dist.) of the environment committee.

Other PB members whose chairmanship were affected were Rotelio Lumjod (public works), Peve Ligan (human resource development and civil service), and Saleto Erames (ethics).

Their new chairmanship were the following: Koppin on ethics and human rights committees, Lumjod (education; trade, commerce and industry; and peace and order).

Vice Governor Apolinario Arnaiz Jr., for his part, was no longer chair of the committee on trade, commerce and industry, but was named chair of accounts and appropriations, and the steering committee.

The chairmanship for public works went to newly appointed PB Member Miguel Angel Teves (2nd dist.); human resource development and civil service to ex-officio PB member Erwin Macias (PCL);; agriculture to ex-officio PB Member Arnulfo Teves Jr (ABC); and environmental protection, natural resources and energy to newly appointed PB Member Rodrigo Alanano (3rd dist.).

The minority bloc refused to agree with the new rules of the committees saying that they were not consulted and never agreed to any of the changes imposed by the majority.

During a dialog with DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo at the NAPOLCOM office in Makati last Friday, Koppin, Martinez, and Dr. Liland Zoila Estacion (1st dist.) expressed their concern on the alleged ganging up of the majority on them.

A formal inquiry was then lodged with the department, of which Robredo promised to come up with an opinion and advice on the matter by Tuesday, July 12, to resolve the issue.

Robredo, however, consoled the PB members to take the development in stride as absence of chairmanship from a committee would not deter them from fulfilling their duty as legislators. They should seek other innovative ways of ensuring that their constituents would feel the service that they intended to deliver, he said.  (FREEMAN)