Last week’s announcement by the Commission on Elections increasing the number of Sangguniang Panlalawigan seats in the province of Catanduanes from the previous eight (8) to 10 is seen as a HUGE advantage for candidates of the ruling coalition.
In Resolution No. 11085 dated Dec. 6, 2024, the Comelec increased the number of seats in the provincial boards of 21 provinces whose income classifications were recently raised by the Department of Finance (DOF).
A month earlier, the finance department had issued DOF Order No. 07-2024 on the income classification of individual local government units that would take effect on Jan. 1, 2025 or four months before the May 2025 national and local elections.
Under Section 41 of Republic Act 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991 as amended by RA 8553, the number of seats in the provincial board depends upon the province’s income classification.
First- and second-class provinces will have 10 regular members, while third- and fourth-class provinces will have eight.
Thus, Catanduanes, which is now a 2nd-class LGU, will have two additional SP seats or five (5) each for the East and West districts.
A comparative analysis of election records and statistics conducted by Comelec showed that the number of SP candidates who filed their Certificates of Candidacy is more than the allocated seats provided by law in the 21 provinces affected by the income reclassification except for Biliran.
The provinces whose board seats were increased from eight to 10 were Abra, Apayao, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Quirino, Aurora, Marinduque, Romblon, Catanduanes, Guimaras, Biliran, Southern Leyte, Davao Occidental, Agusan del Norte, Dinagat Islands, Basilan, and Tawi-Tawi.
Eight candidates will be running for the five seats in Catanduanes’ East district, with incumbent PBMs Josevan A. Balidoy, Dean Roberto T. Vergara and Edwin T. Tanael given the edge to retain their seats along with Talino at Galing ng Pinoy (TGP) Partylist chief of staff Lorenzo T. Templonuevo Jr. The four are all members of the Lakas Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas CMD).
The fifth seat could go to former three-termer SP member Arnel Turado of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) but he could be challenged by incumbent Bato Vice Mayor Roy P. Regalado, who is running as an independent.
The other independent aspirants to represent the towns of Pandan, Bagamanoc, Panganiban, Viga, Gigmoto, San Miguel, Baras and Bato are businessman Amando T. Tolledo and past elections’ also-ran Fernando M. Chavez.
In the West district covering Virac, San Andres and Caramoran, political observers say all five seats could go to the five party members: incumbent PBMs Santos V. Zafe, Jose Romeo Francisco and Fred Benedict T. Gianan, newcomer and Virac Councilor Xyrell T. Albaniel, all of Lakas-CMD, with former PBM and Virac Councilor Giovanni A. Balmadrid (NPC) also having an easy path to the fifth slot.
The remaining three bets are all independents – Virac security agency manager Aldrin T. Domanais, Virac resident Domingo C. Pongan and San Andres businessman Allan R. Somido. They would have to exert extra efforts to overcome their rivals’ advantage in terms of organization and campaign resources.
The elevation of the province to 2nd class was announced last October during the Ulat sa Lalawigan of Governor Joseph C. Cua, who said that it assured a greater capacity to allocate funds for public service programs, higher salaries for its employees and greater access to financial assistance for the benefit of the people.
The Provincial Treasurer’s Office, he disclosed, recorded a 128% collection efficiency in revenues from local sources, particularly in real property, amusement, franchise and quarry taxes.
Under Republic Act 11964 passed by Congress last year, income classification of provinces, cities and municipalities will be automatically updated by the DOF every three years.
The income classification of an LGU serves as basis for the identification of grants and aids; determination of its financial capability to undertake programs and projects; total annual or supplemental appropriation for personnel services; compensation adjustment; creation of the new LGU; number of elective Sanggunian members; and limitation on percentage of agricultural land area for reclassification, among others.
The same law provides that an LGU whose average annual regular income falls below the income range during the first reclassification shall retain its current income status, with no official or employee to suffer any diminution of salary and benefits.
However, if its average annual income falls below the income range in the next reclassification, its income classification shall be downgraded, with the salaries and benefits of LGU workers to be affected.