By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Negros Occidental Board members Rommel Debulgado and Manuel Frederick Ko are both in consideration to become senior board member with the former representing the first provincial district and the latter representing the third district.
According to  Negros Occidental Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) director, Engr. Carmelo Orbista, “Based on their practice, the one who becomes the most senior is the one who served the longest or comebacking [sic].”
The local DILG official also indicated votes garnered during the most recent election also comes into play.
Despite outgoing Provincial Board Member Salvador Escalante, Jr. affirming Debulgado would replace him in the post, the most recent Commission on Elections count shows Ko earned more votes, receiving 130,417 to Debulgado’s 105,965.
The full Provincial Board, along with its two ex-officio members, are expected to take office on July 1./DGB, WDJ