BACOLOD CITY, (PNA) — Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. said he prefers that the barangay elections be abolished and that village officials be appointed instead.
Although Monday’s barangay elections in Negros Occidental was “generally peaceful except for isolated cases,” the governor said that such political exercise was “very expensive.”
“The barangay elections is very divisive, expensive and counter-productive,” he said.
Marañon said that barangay officials “should instead be appointed by a committee, the President, or the Department of Interior and Local Government.”
Before, they were the teniente del barrio, then they were called kapitan del barrio, and today, they are called chairmen, the governor said.
Nevertheless, Marañon called on the newly-elected barangay officials to perform their duties well.