By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

A total of 540 barangay captains from across Negros Occidental will be electing officers for their respective Liga ng mga Barangay (Liga) chapters today. Those elected president will sit as ex-officio members, who will then elect a provincial Liga president on July 30. The selected individual then has the opportunity to sit as member of the Negros Occidental Provincial Board.

Incumbent Provincial Liga President Anabelle Bermudo of La Carlota City is projected to reclaim her local seat. She faces a possible challenge from Barangay 9 Captain Jovie Pepillo of Victorias City, who is also expected to win in her jurisdiction.

“To our captains who will vote for their Liga leaders, choose the capable ones that will steer the organization to a better performance,” said Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año.

According to a DILG directive, the process of electing local Liga officials began on June 25. Once the city and municipality elections close, the process immediately begins for provinces, metropolitan areas, highly-urbanized cities, and independent component cities./DGB, WDJ