Eastern Samar Provincial Board

The Eastern Samar Provincial Board is the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (provincial legislature) of the Philippine province of Eastern Samar.

The members are elected via plurality-at-large voting: the province is divided into two districts, each having five seats. A voter votes up to five names, with the top five candidates per district being elected. The vice governor is the ex officio presiding officer, and only votes to break ties. The vice governor is elected via the plurality voting system province-wide.

The districts used in appropriation of members is coextensive with the legislative district of Eastern Samar; unlike congressional representation which is at-large, Eastern Samar is divided into two districts for representation in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.

Aside from the regular members, the board also includes the provincial federation presidents of the Liga ng mga Barangay (ABC, from its old name "Association of Barangay Captains"), the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK, youth councils) and the Philippine Councilors League (PCL).

History

By virtue of Republic Act No. 4221, the majority of voters during the 1965 Samar division plebiscite ratified the division of the old province of Samar into three: Northern Samar, Western Samar, and Eastern Samar. The first local officials of the new provinces, including the provincial board, were elected on November 14, 1967, with the law taking effect, and took office on January 1, 1968.