PDRRMC chief preempts relief, tenders resignation

CEBU, Philippines - Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council chief, Neil Angelo Sanchez has tendered his resignation few weeks after Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III has made a public pronouncement that he is appointing somebody to replace the Capitol’s disaster czar effective on May.

Davide yesterday confirmed receiving the resignation letter of Sanchez effective on March 31. Pending the assumption of the new PDRRMC chief, Davide said he will directly supervise the office.

 The governor has earlier announced that he is appointing his political ally and Task Force Paglig-on head Baltazar Tribunalo Jr. to the position. Tribunalo cannot assume the position yet because of the one year ban for losing candidates. He ran as councilor in Balamban in May 2013 elections. 

Contrary to speculations that Sanchez’ below par performance has prompted him to consider appointing Tribunalo to the position, Davide said that the outgoing PDRRMC chief was doing well in his job.

According to Davide, Sanchez was very much involved during the relief campaign to help the victims of super typhoon Yolanda and even during the efforts to help the victims of magnitude 7.2 earthquake and the ship collision last year.

Sanchez, in a radio interview, explained that he opted to leave government service in order to focus on his private life and establish his own business.

“As my career in government service finally comes to a close, my career in private and corporate is just about to begin. Time to move on to private life but will still continue with my passion. This time as a volunteer where it all started,” Sanchez said in his post on Facebook.

Sanchez had been serving in public office for 16 years and as PDRRMC chief for more than a year. — (FREEMAN)