By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson recently met with the newly-elected Negros Occidental Philippine Councilors League (PCL) officers, led by its president, Silay City Councilor Ryan Gamboa. The post earned the city official a seat on the Negros Occidental Provincial Board and, as a member of Love Negros, the local political coalition now holds the majority on the local legislative body.
However, last June, Negros Occidental Provincial Board Member Manuel Frederick Ko affirmed “there are no parties,” citing the merger between the two local political coalitions, the United Negros Alliance and Love Negros.
“We do not have a majority or a minority [on] the provincial board,” he noted.
The governor yesterday addressed the current makeup of the Provincial Board and said, “[It] is not about power but nominating the right official to serve their organizations.”
During his meeting with the PCL officials, Lacson said he asked them to help in the campaign to combat dengue and African swine fever, along with the ongoing clearing operations across the province.
Gamboa will formally sit on the Provincial Board next week after complying with documentary requirements./DGB, WDJ