Garcia asks National Government Leaders: Consult LGUs on appointees

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia has a “small request” to national heads of agencies of the Marcos administration: Consult local governments before appointing regional heads.

“As a humble request to our newly installed secretaries of the different departments in moving around… or let me just be specific, in so far as Cebu Province is concerned, it would be nice if some prior consultation, a little courtesy will be extended to the Province of Cebu,” Garcia said.

Garcia said she understands that secretaries of different departments have the prerogative on who to appoint to regional offices but it would be “nice” if they can coordinate with local government units so that local leaders like herself can give their inputs.

After all, it will be the local chief executives who will have to be “working very, very closely” with the regional directors.

Garcia cited as example the past three years when the provincial government had no problem working with directors in Central Visayas, especially at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and in the aftermath of Typhoon Odette in December 2021. The typhoon hit at least 36 LGUs in Cebu Province.

“Prior to finalizing my executive order, I call upon our regional directors and get their different inputs because that was crucial. I need the valuable contributions of our regional directors in order to have a more holistic, a more informed policy when we needed to address certain issues,” Garcia said.

The governor commended the “contributions” of DOT-7 Director Shalimar Tamano; DILG-7 Director Leocadio Trovela; DOH-7 Director Jaime Bernadas; DepEd-7 Director Salustiano Jimenez; Assistant Secretary Salvador Diputado of the Department of Agriculture; Allan Poquita of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR-7); DENR-7 Director Paquito Melicor; DSWD-7 Director Rebecca Geamala; DPWH-7 Director Edgard Tabacon; LTO- 7 Director Victor Caindec; and LTFRB-7 Director Eduardo Montealto.

Working with regional directors smoothly will be “valuable in the post pandemic stage,” Garcia said. – JMO (FREEMAN)