Two additional seats for Romblon provincial board members will be up for grabs in the May 12, 2025 national and local elections (NLE), the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said.
The increase in seats is outlined in Comelec Resolution 11085, issued on December 6, which also adjusted the number of board member seats in 21 other provinces across the country, including Marinduque in the MIMAROPA region.
This development follows the Department of Finance's (DOF) recent reclassification of provincial income levels, which takes effect on January 1, 2025. Under the updated guidelines, Romblon has been elevated to a second-class province.
According to the Local Government Code of 1991, provinces classified as first or second class are entitled to 10 provincial board members. Third and fourth-class provinces are allocated eight seats, while fifth and sixth-class provinces have six.
Romblon is among several provinces experiencing changes. Other areas with increased board seats include Abra, Apayao, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Batanes, Quirino, Aurora, Catanduanes, Guimaras, Siquijor, Biliran, Southern Leyte, Camiguin, Davao Occidental, Agusan del Norte, Dinagat Islands, Basilan, and Tawi-Tawi.
Conversely, Maguindanao del Norte will lose two provincial board seats, dropping from 10 to eight, following its reclassification as a fourth-class province.
The Comelec highlighted that in Biliran, the number of available board seats now exceeds the number of candidates running. In such cases, the Local Government Code mandates that any vacant seats will be filled through appointments by the President.
