Rama storms DOF on Oliva removal

CEBU, Philippines - Mayor Michael Rama flew to Manila yesterday to personally bring his letter-complaint to the Department of Finance (DOF) asking Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima to reconsider his order relieving acting Cebu City treasurer Ofelia Oliva from her post.

But Rama failed to meet with the DOF top official because Purisima’s secretary did not allow him to do so for absence of a formal appointment.

Rama identifying himself as mayor of Cebu City and saying that DOF officials are always welcome to Cebu did not work either.

Because of this, Rama was left with no other option but to leave his letter with Purisima’s secretary with an instruction that it be forwarded to the Secretary of Finance.

“I must admit that I was quite surprised when I read your letter since this is the first time that I have encountered a designation which the Secretary of Finance himself has ordered and signed. The power to designate treasurer has been delegated to the Bureau of Local Government-Finance and this has been the practice although the Finance Secretary is not prohibited from exercising the said power,” Rama said, referring to Purisima’s order.

Section 470 (a) of the Local Government Code provides that treasurers shall be appointed by the Secretary of Finance, but Rama argued that it is clearly stated in that provision of law that the name of those who will be appointed should come from a list of at least three ranking, eligible recommendees of the mayor, subject to civil service law rules and regulations.

Rama reminded Purisima of the Local Treasury Operations Manual, which states that “The Secretary of Finance shall appoint only from the list of qualified recommendees nominated by the local chief executive.”

The rule is that if none of the recommendees is qualified, the Finance Secretary must return the list to the local chief executives with reason therefore, and the local chief executive must be given the chance to submit a new list of eligible qualified recommendees.

Purisima’s department personnel order 58-2012 issued last February 1, 2012 said the designation of Oliva as treasurer of Cebu City shall be considered automatically revoked upon the assumption of Assistant City Treasurer Tessie Camarillo as In-Charge of Office. (FREEMAN)