Against City Council’s wish: Mayor keeps Baclayon as city agriculturist

CEBU, Philippines — Despite a call from the City Council to replace city agriculturist Joelito Baclayon over alleged “incompetence” in handling the El Niño preparations of the city, Mayor Michael Rama has decided to keep him as head of the City Agriculture Department.

Rama even defended Baclayon saying, he knows his department heads well more than anyone.

The City Council, upon motion of Councilor Pastor Alcover Jr., passed a resolution Wednesday last week urging Baclayon to step down. In a privilege speech, Alcover also asked Rama to consider looking for Baclayon’s replacement as the latter had been “inefficient” in his job.

“It is only a call… they can have their call but I have my management prerogative, mayor’s prerogative, and my department heads should stay,” said Rama.

According to the mayor, the city government was able to hold at least seven convergence meetings already to address the effects of El Niño. The convergence meetings were allegedly done to keep track of the situation and make the necessary actions to prevent any surprise of what comes after.

Rama said that among the preparations the city government has undertaken is the beefing up of efforts to look for water sources. He said there have been institutions who committed to provide 11 water tankers to deliver potable water to the mountain barangays.

“I will also be checking in identification  of sources of water, number two, will there be more Mobile Syphon tanks?” he said.

He also underscored the creation of Gabion dams in the city that may store rainwater for future use.

Meanwhile, Rama has called on the city councilors to help the executive department in addressing the effects of El Niño and work with Baclayon as the overseer. He considers designating Alcover as deputy mayor for agriculture with Councilors Jocelyn Pesquera and Mary Ann Delos Santos as his assistants.

“If that set up all goes well for them, they have to be hands on because the mayor is hands on,” said Rama. — (FREEMAN)