Manila, April 9 -- Negros Occidental has formed the Provincial People's Council (PPC) to better engage the participation of civil society organizations (CSOs) in local governance.

Sandy Saluria of Murcia was elected president during the organizational assembly held at the Negros Museum here on Wednesday.

"We are the first to form the PPC in the Negros Island Region (NIR)," Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO) officer-in-charge Anna Marie Lucasan said Thursday.

The PPDO facilitated the briefing and election in collaboration with the Provincial Board and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)-Negros Occidental.

Led by Saluria, the officers, who come from various city and municipal people's councils, will...