City has new social welfare head

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS) has a new department head.

Dr. Esther Concha, former executive assistance of Councilor Augustus Jun Pe, Jr., received her appointment and memorandum of assignment last Friday afternoon.

Concha’s appointment is with the City Planning and Development Office but she will be designated as OIC-Head of the DSWS.

Mayor Michael Rama announced this last Monday but he signed the memorandum only last Friday.

Cathy Yso, whom Concha replaced, is now assigned at the Department of Public Services (DPS) as assistant department head of Engr. Dionisio Gualiza.

Yso filled the position vacated by Engr. Maria Concepcion Encabo who was tasked to focus on the Bus Rapid Transit Project in Cebu City.

Councilor Jose Daluz III said that Concha’s appointment is not casual nor regular but coterminous.

The Human Resource Development Officer earlier said that Concha cannot be designated as an OIC if she remains a casual employee. Civil Service Rules does not allow a casual employee to supervise regular employees.

But the HRDO said that if Concha’s appointment is coterminous, which is somehow similar to a regular position, there would be no problem. Coterminous positions are positions primarily confidential in nature. Her term ends when the term of the appointing authority, who is Rama, ends.

A coterminous position also does not need Civil Service eligibility.

Yso was the secretary of Rama’s predecessor Tomas Osmeña. Osmeña put Yso in the DSWS during his term.

Rama denied that politics is behind the revamp. — (FREEMAN)