THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) has added 42 seats for provincial board members to be elected in the May 2025 national and local poll after the Department of Finance (DOF) updated its income classification of provinces, effective January 1 next year.
Based on Resolution No. 11085, the Comelec approved the adjustment of the number of provincial board members seats for 21 provinces.
“After due deliberation, the Commission en banc hereby resolves to accordingly adjust the number of seats previously allotted to the concerned provinces for the purpose of the 12 May 2025 National and Local Elections,” said the Comelec.
Getting two additional seats each after having their classifications upgraded are Abra, Apayao, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Batanes, Quirino, Aurora, Marinduque, Romblon, Catanduanes, Guimaras, Siquijor, Biliran, Southern Leyte, Camiguin, Davao Occidental, Agusan del Norte, Dinagat Islands, Basilan, and Tawi-Tawi.
The poll body, however, said Biliran will have more allocated seats than the number of candidates running.
As provided by the Local Government Code of 1991, it said the two vacancies in the Provincial Boards shall be filled up by appointment of the President.
On the other hand, the Comelec said Maguindanao del Norte will have two less provincial board member seats as its classification was brought down to fourth class.
Upon its creation in 2022, Maguindanao del Norte was initially allocated 10 provincial board member seats.
The Comelec made the adjust to address the DOF re-classification of the 21 provinces.
Under the Local Government Code, first and second class provinces shall have 10 provincial board members; third and fourth class provinces will have eight provincial board members; and fifth and sixth class provinces will have six provincial board members.
“The number of seats in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan depends upon the classification of the provinces,” it said.
The Comelec has previously set the number of provincial board member seats to be elected in the May 2025 polls at 800.
At the same time, the Department of Health called on political aspirants to consider organizing community fireworks display in time to welcome year 2025.
In a televised public briefing, DOH Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo said political aspirants looking to advance their chances in the coming elections may do the country good by organizing community fireworks display on New Year’s Eve, or on the evening of December 31.
“We know that it is now the election season, and many would like to promote themselves. We have a tip: It would be good if you will make your presence felt and organize community fireworks display,” said Domingo, saying that such activities will aid the DOH in its campaign to reduce fireworks-related injuries and deaths during the New Year revelry.
“You can actually help the DOH because it will reduce the injuries if we have these community fireworks in your areas,” said Domingo.
“The DOH is not against fireworks as long as these are done in the community and use the legal ones,” he said.
“It’s better if we don’t light fireworks at home anymore. Let us leave it to the professionals during community fireworks so we can prevent accidents from happening,” he also said
It has been part of Filipino tradition to light firecrackers and fireworks during the New Year revelry to bring good luck and drive away evil spirits.
