The newly elected president of the provincial Liga ng mga Barangay sa Pilipinas on Friday, January 12, vowed to continue the campaign towards a drug-free Negros Occidental.
Richard Julius Sablan, Victorias City Barangay 2 chairman, won the league presidency unopposed during an election at the Seda Hotel in Bacolod City.
He will sit as ex-officio member of the Negros Occidental Sangguniang Panlalawigan.
Sablan said he will continue the community-based rehabilitation program (CBRP) initiated by his predecessor, Juvy Pepello, and push for more barangays in the province to be declared drug-free.
There are about 460 drug-free barangays in Negros Occidental out of 601, he said.
Other league officers elected unopposed on Friday were Annabelle Bermudo (La Carlota City) – vice president, Jerome Agustin (Cauayan) – auditor, and Henry Alcorin (Don Salvador Benedicto), Marlon Malacon (E.B. Magalona), Elir Borres (Sipalay City), Ronnie Salo (Manapla), Freddie Mongcal (Hinigaran), Rico Regalia (Kabankalan City), Alfredo Martin Cui (San Carlos City), and Paul Leonard de Oca (Talisay City) – directors.
They immediately took their oaths of office before Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson.
“As public servants, you are expected to embrace this responsibility with utmost commitment and consistency. As leaders of the league, you must promote inclusivity and ensure that everyone is heard, as this is the essence of democracy,” the governor said.
He urged the league officials to hold barangay assemblies that are crucial to achieving inclusive and responsive governance.
“Effective governance is built on collaboration and unity of purpose. Work together with your peers in the league, the local government, and all stakeholders to achieve our collective goal for constructive change,” Lacson said.
He called on the barangay officials to be stewards not only of efficiency and timely service delivery, but also of integrity and honesty.
”Let us make integrity, hard work, and commitment to service our compass in leading and serving our fellow Negrenses,” Lacson said.*