ILOILO – In yesterday’s reorganization of committee chairmanships in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP), Provincial Board members Lorenz Defensor and Licurgo Tirador did not get any committee to chair.
According to Vice Gov. Christine Garin, presiding officer, Defensor and Tirador themselves opted not to get committees to lead.
Defensor, son of Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr., used to head two committees – Rules and Privileges, Ethics and Accountability; and Ways and Means.
Tirador, on the other hand, used to chair the Committee on Cultural Communities and Underprivileged; and Committee on Economic Affairs and Investment.
The new chairperson of the Committee on Rules and Privileges, Ethics and Accountability is SP member Domingo Oso Jr. Defensor became just a member.
On the other hand, the new head of the Committee on Ways and Means is SP member Renee Valencia, with Defensor just one of the members.
Appointed new chair of the Committee on Cultural Communities and Underprivileged is Ma. Angelica Bianca Requinto, and the new head of the Committee on Economic Affairs and Investment is SP member Bryant Paul Biron.
The Committee on Appropriations also has a new chair, Dorothy Paes. It used to be headed by SP member Neilo “Bong” Tupas.
The following are the new committee chairmanships:
* Requinto – Accounts; Cultural Communities and Underprivileged; Youth Affairs and Sports Development
* Valencia – Justice, Good Government and Human Rights; Ways and Means; Zoning and Land Use Planning
* Marcelo Valentine Serag – Agriculture; Disaster Risk Reduction and Management; General Services and Human Resources
* Nielo Tupas – Science and Technology
* Oso – Aquatic Resources; Games and Amusement; Rules, Privileges, Ethics and Accountability; Transportation and Communication and Public Utilities
* Paes – Appropriations; Barangay Affairs; Labor and Employment;
* Liecel Mondejar-Seville – Cooperative and Other Non-Governmental Organizations; Health and Sanitation; Social Welfare, Housing, Senior Citizens and Disabled
* Demetrio Sonza – Culture, Arts, History and Tourism; Ordinances, Legal Matters and Inter-Government Relations
* Garin – Education Information; Women and Family Affairs
* Jeneda Salcedo-Orendain – Aquatic Resources; Environment and Natural Resources
* Manny Gallar – Public Order and Safety
* Bryant Paul Biron – Economic Affairs and Investment; Infrastructure
“Board Lorenz signified nga kun puede indi mag-chairman. So nangita man ta sang mabulos sa iya,” said Garin.
Tirador, said Garin, cited his advanced age for expressing disinterest in chairing any committee.
Last week when the SP majority declared all committee chairmanships vacant, Tirador, Sonza and Sevilla protested. SP member Defensor was then the acting presiding officer.
Those who pressed for it were Gallar, Serag, Valencia, Oso, Biron, Tupas, Orendain, Paes, and Requinto – allies of Cong. Ferjenel Biron who is running for governor against SP member Defensor’s brother, Cong. Arthur Defensor Jr./PN
