ILOILO – When it switches to “paperless” session the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) is looking at an annual savings of P250,000.
In fact, some members of the Provincial Board and the secretariat were now using computers to browse through the agenda and minutes of the sessions, said Vice Gov. Christine Garin, the SP presiding officer.
“We are on our second week of trying the paperless system,” Garin said.
The SP was estimated to be using at least three reams of bond paper every session in producing copies of the agenda and minutes of previous sessions, excluding other documents.
Garin said the SP also wanted “all the information to be accessible right away.”
“In our system now, our Provincial Board members cannot immediately receive the information. Through the paperless session, they could already receive the information wherever they are if they browse through the internet or their e-mails,” Garin said.
She added that they also want to archive Provincial Board documents, especially ordinances, so they could search for the information they need while they are in session.
The SP is currently working on a plan to purchase computers for all Provincial Board members and the secretariat for the full-blown implementation of the “paperless” system.
“If we purchase computers, we know it would cost us much but we are looking at the long-term benefit of it. It will not only benefit us, current members of the Board, but also future members,” said Garin.
She expressed hope that all Provincial Board members would be amenable to the proposed transition to a “paperless” system so they could fully implement it in the coming months.
Meanwhile, she confirmed that there would be a reorganization in the membership of the Provincial Board’s committees. The chairpersons and the vice chairpersons, however, stay.
According to Garin, this was inevitable due to the entry of two ex-officio members – Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) provincial federation president Ma. Angelica Bianca Requinto and Liga ng mga Barangay provincial federation president Dorothy Paes.
Garin previously said Requinto should head the committee on youth affairs and sports development that is currently being headed by SP member Jeneda Salcedo-Orendain.
On the other hand, Paes should handle the committee on barangay affairs that the previous Liga federation president Pablito Gemarino lead, said Garin.
SP member Emmanuel Gallar previously expressed interest to hand over his chairmanship of the committee on games and amusement to SP member Domingo Oso.
Gallar is on his third consecutive term and is barred by law from seeking a fourth term this upcoming 2019 midterm election. He has expressed interest to run for mayor of Cabatuan.
Garin said the allocation of committee chairmanships largely depended on the field of expertise of SP members. (PNA/PN)
