THE Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) has retouched the thorny issue of committee composition that irritated the perceived opposition lawmakers who were once in the corridors of power.
Provincial Board Member Nathaniel Binlod, who once allied with the opposition, showed his mettle he can be with new-found board members in the ruling administration.
With this, he boldly moved for the revamp of some committees that irked BM Atty. Venzenso Arcamo during the regular session presided over by Vice-Gov. Dionisio Victor A. Balite on Friday (February 3, 2023).
A reliable source who witnessed the commotion at the SP said that Arcamo was fuming for there was no need to revamp the committee composition, for now.
Voting on Binlod’s motion for the committee facelift ensued with eight (8) of the majority and left only five (5) in the opposition.
Binlod’s motion was approved with him and BMs Atty. Tomas Abapo, Jr., Atty. Jisselle Villamor, Tita V. Baja, Greg Jala, Lucile Lagunay, Philippine Councilor’s League (PCL) Bohol chapter president Gloria Gementiza in favor.
Arcamo, BMs Aldner Damalerio, Vierna Mae Boniel-Maglasang, Dr. Elpidio Bonita and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) federation president Victor Bolos voted in the negative.
Prior to the voting, the opposing parties argued during the session. The majority batted on Rule No. 4 in their Internal Rules of Procedures (IRP) that committee revamp needs only simple majority, which is one half of the total members, according to SP Secretary Boni Quirog in interview with Taknaan sa Katawhan, a radio program over DYTR anchored by Dave Responte.
There are 13 voting members, hence, 7 or 8 is enough.
But the opposition insisted that committee change needs two-thirds of the vote based on Rule No. 17 in the said IRP.
Aside from the committee revamp, the majority also replaced Baja as floor leader and now it is transferred to Abapo.
The committees being retouched are the non-Government Organizations/Civil Society, Personnel and Ways and Means.
Jala as vice-chair of the NGO/CSO committee is replaced by Bolos and Bonita still the chair and Lagunay, member.
Villamor is replaced by Gementiza as vice-chairperson of the personnel committee and the latter is replaced by Jala as member while Bonita stays as chair.
Villamor is replaced by Baja as member of the Ways and Means committee.
The rest of the other committee composition stays as is. (rvo)
