Oras ni John, rason sa break-up

The Provincial Board is set to honor at least six of its outgoing members whose terms will end on June 30.

During its regular session yesterday, the board has agreed to hold a farewell session on June 25 to give each of them a plaque of appreciation for what they have done in the past years, and to hear their farewell messages as well.

Vice Governor Gregorio Sanchez, Jr. has agreed to the suggestion of PB member Victor Maambong to have all of them sign the plaque instead of the usual provincial secretary and vice governor as signatories.

Outgoing members include Raul Bacaltos, Antonio Almirante, Jr., Carmiano Kintanar, Estrella Yapha, Joven Mondigo, Sr. and Gabriel Luis "Luigi" Quisumbing.

Bacaltos failed in his reelection bid for a second term in the first district, while Almirante is on his last term in the second district.

First-termers Kintanar and Quisumbing lost in their bid for congressional post in the second and sixth district, respectively.

Yapha and Mondigo are both in their last terms in the PB. Yapha lost in her bid for Congress in the third district, while Mondigo also lost his mayoralty bid in Medellin town. But his son, Joven Jr., is set to replace him at the PB, although the younger Mondigo has not been proclaimed yet due to the controversy surrounding the Bogo ballots.

PB member Juan Bolo said that based on past experiences, they expect a "sentimental affair" as farewell messages of their colleagues, regardless of political affiliations, would be delivered.

Meanwhile, Sanchez is set to convene by the second week of July the new members to compose the next board hoping that the canvassing of the Bogo ballots would be finished in due time.

Two board members of the fourth district have yet to be proclaimed pending the canvassing of election returns from the municipality of Bogo.

But in the partial tally of the Commission on Election, comprising the rest of the towns in the fourth district, Mondigo, Jr. and reelectionist board member Jose Ma. Gastardo are on the first two slots for the position.

Sanchez said that during this meeting with all the new members, the presiding officer pro-tempore will be determined, as well as the assignment of chairmanship of standing committees.

Unofficially, provincial secretary Aniceta Pasaylo has already identified PB member Agnes Magpale to be the presiding officer pro-tempore based on their calculation of the highest percentage of the total votes cast in their respective district.

Reelected were the governor, vice governor, board members Bolo, Gastardo, Magpale, Maambong, Victoria Corominas, and Rosemarie Durano.

Newly elected members are Julian Daan, Wilfredo Caminero, Peter John Calderon, Ceasar Ian Geronimo Zambo, Joven Mondigo, Jr., and Wenceslao Gakit.

The new set of provincial officials, including Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, will take their oath of office simultaneously on June 30. Sanchez set their inaugural session on July 9. - Gregg M. Rubio/MEEV