ARENA-7 retains officers

CEBU, Philippines – Instead of voting for new officers, the Association of Regional Executives of National Agencies in Region-7 decided to maintain status quo and retain their present officers.

Department of Interior and Local Government regional director Pedro Noval Jr. remains as the president of ARENA-7, a legitimate association made up of regional executives of national agencies.

Members of ARENA said they chose to retain Noval and his officers as they showed exemplary work in the projects of ARENA and accomplished a lot during their term.

The other officers are NEDA regional director Marlene Rodriguez, vice president for internal affairs; PhilHealth assistant Vice President William Chavez, vice president for external affairs and DTI regional director Asteria Caberte, secretary.

PCOP regional director Chloe Osano, treasurer; Population Commission regional director Leo Rama, auditor; Civil Service Commission regional director Judith Chicano, press officer, and Carmela Fernan of the Department of Budget and Management, legal consultant.

For the board of directors, Office of Muslim Affairs regional director Sakiran Hajan was joined by newly-appointed members Land Transportation Office-7 regional director Raul Aguilos, Ombudsman Pelagio Apostol, regional prosecutor Fernando Gubalane, National Food Authority-7 regional director Danilo Bumabon, Mines and Geosciences Bureau regional director Roger De Dios and Ruel Rumarate of Landbank.

Given plaques of appreciation during the general assembly were regional police director Chief Supt. Ronald Roderos, Philippine Information Agency regional director Elma Teruel, Department of Social Welfare and Development-7 regional director Teodolo Romo Jr., and Maj. Gen. Pedro Ike Inserto for their support for ARENA-7.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde, the guest of honor and speaker for the program, commended the accomplishments of the group and the “improvement in the delivery of service for the people in Central Visayas.”

Remonde cited numerous accomplishments of the group like conducting staff development trainings, campaigns against illegal recruitments, job fairs and projects for out-of-school youths and students and building good ties with the Muslim community through projects such as building foot bridges and other amenities used in their community. — AJ de la Torre/BRP (THE FREEMAN)