Who will replace new DSWD-6 head in Iloilo prov’l board?

By John Noel E. Herrera

First district Board Member of the province of Iloilo, Atty. Carmelo Nochete, has been appointed as the new regional director of the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Western Visayas.

Nochete took his oath before DSWD Secretary Erwin Tulfo on Friday, Sept 9, 2022.

“Nalipay man kita nga nahatagan kita sang opportunity nga mag serbe sa mga pumuluyo sa bilog nga Region 6, at the same time nakulbaan man ako kay man-an man sang tanan nga outsider ako sa DSWD, so I have to learn, and learn it fast,” Nochete said.

(I am happy as I am given an opportunity to serve the public in the whole of Region 6, at the same time, I am also scared because you all know, I am also new in this field, in DSWD, so I have to learn, and learn it fast.)

Nochete said he will tender his courtesy resignation to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Iloilo today, Sept 12, 2022 “as by operation of law, if magbaton ka sang isa ka office nga inconsistence sa imo gina pungkuan subong, considered resign ka.”

Meanwhile, DILG-Iloilo Director Teodora Sumagaysay said that based on Section 45 of the Local Government Code, “if there is a permanent vacancy in the SP, the appointment to fill up the position must come from the Office of the President of the Republic of the Philippines through the Executive Secretary.”

Sumagaysay said the nominee should come from the same political party as that of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan member who post the vacancy.

“Since Board Member Nochete belongs to LAKAS-CMD, so duha na siya ka certification ang i-secure niya, first is the certification of the membership of the appointee from the highest official, meaning sa national gid na siya, ikaduwa is a nomination from the highest official of the political party concern,” Sumagaysay said.

(Since Board Member Nochete belongs to LAKAS-CMD, the one who will replace him should secure two certifications, first is the certification of the membership of the appointee from the highest official, meaning in the national, secondly is the nomination from the highest official of the political party concern.)

She also clarified that an election will only happen if the board member who vacated the seat does to belong to any political party.

Sumagaysay added that the Local Government Code also does not provide a deadline for the filling up of vacancies in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan “so the party concerned can appoint a replacement to the vacated position any time.”

As of the writing, there is no confirmation yet coming from Nochete or his political party as to who will replace him as one of the board members in the first district of Iloilo.