No more reason for regional directors and employees not to transfer here for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has allocated P200-Million bridging fund for them, Governor Auring E. Cerilles disclosed in a weekend interview with the local media here.

Cerilles told the media that her husband Congressman Tony, successfully inserted the P200-Million in the 2008 National Budget intended to pay the affected regional employees and part of it will be used to build a mega building for regional offices.

She clarified that this mega building will be placed at the Provincial Government Center near the ZamboSur Medical Center in Dao.  Most likely, the Department of Budget and Management, Commission on Audit, National Economic Development Administration, Department of Finance and Department of Health shall be housed here, she added.

Cerilles, as chairperson of the Regional Development Council in Region IX, keeps an eye of the offices which already complied with the President’s directive to gradually transfer to this city.

Of 68 regional offices due to move out Zamboanga City, only 28 have fully complied, 8 established their satellite office here while 32 others still remain unmoved, according to Executive Director Leonila Sisona of the Pagadian City Regional Center Management and  and Coordinating Office (PCRCMCO). Although the Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Tourism, Department of Labor and Employment, Bureau of Immigration and Deportation are exempted to transfer but they are advised to establish a satellite office here, Sisona added.

With the P200-M bridging fund for the transfer, the RDC chair said this can complement the need of regional employees who will transfer here. To date, at least 5,000 regional employees are now identified who may avail of the relocation pay.

Since DOH is among the government agencies to be housed at the mega building, within it will be a medical arcade for doctors to stay and hold office here.  This mega building will be ideally built near the ZamboSur Medical Center which is slated to be inaugurated not later than April this year, Cerilles elaborated.

On the other hand, Cerilles lamented that despite the President’s directive, there are some  DENR regional employees who are now reporting back to their Zamboanga City office weeks after their office have fully transferred here.

“They will be charged for insubordination.  Ila rason kay kalit kuno ila pag-transfer which we all know not true,” Cerilles remarked.

Nevertheless she said, she cannot blame those employees why they defied the order because they listened to Zamboanga City Mayor Celso Lobregat who gave them “false hope” that the transfer will not be fully implemented as PGMA who is keen of the transfer has only 2 years before she could totally effect the transfer.

“But I tell you, whoever is the President of this country, Pagadian City remains the regional administrative center in Region 9 because it is already a law,” Cerilles said.

Last update : 03-03-2008 13:00

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