By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Despite the merger between the two main political coalitions in Negros Occidental, the United Negros Alliance (UNegA) and Love Negros, Negros Occidental Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer, who serves as UNegA president, said he plans to initiate a loyalty check among party members.
Last month, after Silay City Councilor Ryan Gamboa was elected Negros Occidental Philippine Councilors League president, earning him a seat on the Negros Occidental Provincial Board and giving Love Negros a majority on the local legislative body, the vice governor insisted the Provincial Board is “not divided along political parties.”
In terms of political makeup, the local coalition now holds the three sectoral representative seats on the board. Aside from Gamboa, Negros Occidental Association of Barangay Captains President Juvy Pepillo and Negros Occidental Sangguniang Kabataan Federation President Pocholo Yuvienco are also Love Negros members.
Additionally, Valladolid Mayor Enrique Miravalles, another Love Negros member, won the recent presidential election for the Negros Occidental chapter of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines.
Ferrer pointed out, 10 of the province’s 19 municipalities are currently under an UNegA administration.
“As a party member you have an obligation to follow party decisions.” he stated. “You owe it to the party you joined.”
Last June, Negros Occidental Provincial Board Member Manuel Frederick Ko affirmed “there are no parties,” citing the merger between the two local political coalitions.
“We do not have a majority or a minority [on] the provincial board,” he noted./DGB, WDJ