THE Provincial Board of Negros Occidental during its regular session on Wednesday approved on second reading the proposed ordinance amending certain provisions of its Internal Rules of Procedures, including the creation of two additional committees.
Based on the proposed ordinance, SP is creating a stand-alone committee on tourism separating it from the committee on trade, industry, and commerce. It is also pushing for the creation of new committee on government assets.
Thus, from the 28 modified committees designated to 14 members of the Provincial Board (PB) holding two chairmanships each, there will now be 30 committees once approved.
“For uniformity, the SP (PB) initially created 28 committees so that each member, including ex-officio will have two committees each,” said Fifth District Board Member Alain Gatuslao, chairman of the committee on laws, rules, and ordinances.
Gatuslao, however, pointed out that there is a need to create two more committees for the anticipated Katipunan ng Kabataan (KK) and barangay elections in Octobe. The KK will also have a representative at the SP.
“Prior to KK and barangay elections, there will be two members who will handle three committees, yet still subject for another reorganization depending also on the outcome of the Philippine Councilors League (PCL) and Liga ng mga Barangay elections in the province,” he added.
Moreover, part of the proposed ordinance is amendments of Section 5 of the Ordinance No. 007, series of 2016, which provides guidelines on who will preside the session in behalf of the vice governor.
PB has initially drafted two scenarios, one is still following the rule on seniority in the absence of the vice governor.
Subsequently, if the vice governor is present but needs to temporarily leave the session, he will designate the presiding officer in his behalf, or if no one will accept the designation, then the members will vote.
“With regards to committees, I expect that there are no more problems. But in terms of who will sit as presiding officer in the absence of the vice governor, it might be contentious,” Gatuslao said.
The amendments also cover Section 19, providing for the inclusion of changes in the committee on trade, industry and commerce and addition of Negros child to the committee on women and family and welfare.
It is also amending Section 20, which is relative to the committee composition where there should be a chairman, vice chairman, and three members.