ILOILO – As expected, Barangay Captain Dorothy Paes of Balabag, Dumangas town, the lone candidate for federation president of the Liga ng mga Barangay in this province, won.
Paes got 40 votes in Monday’s election out of the 42 municipal (and the component city of Passi) Liga presidents that attended.
Paes’ running mate, Neptali Salcedo Jr. of Sara, also won as Liga vice president. He got 40 votes.
The lone candidate for Liga auditor won, too. Andres Bedro of Balasan got 41 votes.
Only one municipal Liga president failed to attend the federation election at Casa Real de Iloilo (old provincial capitol). Calinog’s William Centena was still recuperating from a surgical procedure.
Those elected to the Liga federation’s Board of Directors were the following:
* Jerry Tuares of Tigbauan – 38 votes
* Edna Miane of Carles – 38 votes
* Ferdinand Esmejerda of Igbaras – 36 votes
* Lyka Joy Deboque of Anilao – 36 votes
* Sancho Navarro of Estancia – 35 votes
* Domingo Alarba of San Enrique – 35 votes
* Lorenzo Puda of Pototan – 34 votes
* Sebastian Salcedo of Alimodian – 34 votes
The election was smooth, said Department of Interior and Local Government – Iloilo director Teodora Sumagaysay.
The new Liga officials should take their oath of office before assuming their posts, she stressed.
As Liga federation president, Paes will sit as ex-officio member in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.
According to Sumagaysay, Paes should promote programs and projects for the total development of barangays; support the national government’s campaign against crime and corruption, among others; and promote, decency, integrity and honesty in the barangays.
Paes thanked colleagues for electing her. Among others, she said, she would do one thing that past Liga presidents had not done – attend municipal Liga meetings and even barangay council sessions.
“Ang provincial Liga president magapanaog sa kabanwahanan down sa kabarangayan kay maga-attend kita sang ila nga Liga session para mahatagan sila igtalupangod,” said Paes.
She previously said she would work to have all barangay officials enrolled in PhilHealth.
She also envisions scholarships for children of barangay officials./PN
