• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson will deliver his State of the Province Address on July 8, which will be held simultaneously with the inaugural session of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) of Negros Occidental, at the Provincial Capitol Social Hall in Bacolod City.
Lacson, who is on his third and final term as governor of Negros Occidental, is expected to enumerate the accomplishments of his administration, and bare his programs and projects for the next three years.
The SP, led by Vice Governor Jose Benito Alonso, held a caucus on July 1 and designated the chairpersons of various committees, which will be subject to approval during the inaugural SP session.
Board Member Marxlen dela Cruz, former mayor of Don Salvador Benedicto, who represents the 1st district of Negros Occidental, was recommended as the chairperson of the Committees on Budget and Finance, Trade Industry and Commerce, as well as Ways and Means;
Board Member Araceli Somosa has Health and Social Services, as well as Human Resource; Board Member Sixto Guanzon got Laws, Rules and Ordinances, Internal Ethics and Discipline, Transportation, and Public Utilities;
Board Member Christopher Marañon will chair the committees on Tourism, History, Culture, and Arts; Board Member Hope Marey Depasucat has Oversight, while Board Member Andrew Montelibano was recommended to lead the committees on Agriculture, Environment, and Games and Amusement;
Board Member Paula Alonso was assigned to Public Works and Land Use, and Government Enterprise and Privatization; while Board Member Nicholas Yulo has Investment and Promotions, as well as International Relations.
Board Member Rita Gatuslao was given Women, Family Welfare, and the Negros Child, Education, Senior Citizens, PWD, and IP;
Board Member Hadjie Trojillo has Human Rights; Board Member Ralph Alvarez, Disaster Preparedness; Board Member Jeffrey Tubola has Cooperatives, as well as Labor and Employment;
Board Member Julius Martin Asistio – ICT; Board Member Richard Julius Sablan – Barangay Affairs, Peace and Order, Good Government and Accountability; while Board Member Mayvelyn Madrid – Youth and Sports, as well as Government Assets.
On the other hand, Governor Lacson has retained the services of Provincial Administrator Atty. Rayfrando Diaz and Atty. Alberto Nellas Jr. as Provincial Legal Officer.*
