ILOILO – To ensure a more collaborative and inclusive governance style, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) under the leadership of newly-elected Vice Gov. Nathalie Ann Debuque, has finalized the distribution of committee chairmanships during its second regular session on July 8.
A total of 29 standing committees were officially assigned to members of the Provincial Board, with Debuque stressing that the process was guided by dialogue, voluntary expression of interests, and efforts to align committee assignments with individual advocacy and campaign promises.
“We now have 29 chairmanships under the 15th SP. We have temporarily adopted the internal rules and procedures from the previous SP because we want to refer this to the Committee on Rules, which will draft the new rules,” Debuque told Panay News.
She explained that she sought to depart from a top-down model of assigning posts.
“As I said in my inaugural session, I want a collaborative process here in the SP. We serve as conduits. We listen to their preferences,” she said.
To address overlapping interests, Debuque said members engaged in discussions to negotiate roles.
“If preferences could be accommodated, we gave them the chairmanship. If there’s overlap, we ask: can you serve as chair or vice chair instead?” she added.
Each committee will have a maximum of 10 members, including the chairperson and vice chairperson, and up to eight regular members.
“For committee membership, it’s not up to the chairperson to decide who joins. SP members voluntarily join committees based on their advocacies and alignment with their vision,” Debuque said.
The final committee chairmanships are as follows:
* Accounts – Mark P. Palabrica
* Agriculture – Rolito C. Cajilig
* Appropriations – Dominic Paul C. Oso
* Aquatic Resources – Nielito C. Tupas
* Barangay Affairs – Amalia Victoria F. Debuque
* Cooperatives and NGOs – Rolito C. Cajilig
* Cultural Communities & Underprivileged – Esara Aldeguer Javier
* Culture, Arts, History & Tourism – Nielito C. Tupas
* Disaster Risk Reduction & Management – Rolando B. Distura
* Economic Affairs & Investment – Jason Gonzales
* Education & Information – Jason Gonzales
* Environment & Natural Resources – Amalia Victoria F. Debuque
* Games & Amusement – Christy Love Custodio-Margarico
* General Services & Human Resources – Mark P. Palabrica
* Health & Sanitation – Nathalie Ann F. Debuque
* Infrastructure – Rolando B. Distura
* Justice, Good Government & Human Rights – Rica Jane L. Garin
* Labor & Employment – Jo Ann B. Germinanda
* Ordinances, Legal Matters & Inter-Government Relations – Christy Love Custodio Margarico
* Oversight – Dominic Paul C. Oso
* Public Order & Security – June S. Mondejar
* Rules, Privileges, Ethics & Accountability – Rolex T. Suplico
* Science & Technology – Rica Jane L. Garin
* Social Welfare, Housing, Senior Citizens & PWDs – Rolex T. Suplico
* Transportation, Communication & Public Utilities – Nathalie Ann F. Debuque
* Ways and Means – June S. Mondejar
* Women and Family Affairs – Nathalie Ann F. Debuque
* Youth Affairs and Sports Development – Esara Aldeguer Javier
* Zoning and Land Use Planning – Rolex T. Suplico
“Our standing committees don’t all have the same number of members. That’s because members chose based on what matters most to them,” Debuque emphasized.
Earlier in the day, the Vice Governor convened a pre-session “workshop” to deliberate on the chairmanship assignments in a smooth and consultative manner. “The members’ decision-making was consultative,” she noted.
Debuque, who is serving her first term as vice governor and presiding officer of the SP, said she personally opted to lead the committees on Health and Sanitation, Women and Family Affairs, and Transportation and Communication.
“As a newbie in provincial politics, I want to revisit my campaign promises. I’ve always been passionate about health, tourism, and amplifying the voice of the youth and women. That’s why I chose these committees,” she said.
Debuque also revealed that Suplico is temporarily acting as the floor leader, pending a formal election.
“It’s not yet on the agenda. Majority floor leaders are elected,” she added./PN
