Utlang wants to quit as COSAP head

CEBU, Philippines – Believing she will be more effective as city veterinarian, Dr. Alice Utlang wants to leave Cebu City Office for Substance Abuse Prevention and be detailed back to the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Fisheries.

In a December 29 letter, Utlang asked acting mayor Edgardo Labella that she be reinstated as DVMF head, her last assignment before she was moved to COSAP following the reshuffling in January 2014.

“Now that it’s been more than two years, I would like to express my intention to be recalled back to my mother unit so that I can perform the duties and responsibilities inherent to my position,” she wrote to Labella.

Dr. Pilar Romero had since assumed as the new city vet.

Utlang, however, called her reassignment as the executive director of COSAP “only temporary in nature.”

In her letter, she cited Memorandum Circular No. 2 s. 2005 of the Civil Service Commission which reportedly provides that temporary reassignment is only good for a maximum period of one year.

“It has been more than two years since I was detailed and reassigned. Maybe now is a high time for me to request that I be restored back to my mother unit and to perform duties and functions as the city veterinarian,” Utlang said.

She said she was sworn in to discharge the duties of a city veterinarian in 2013. Having been reassigned and detailed as COSAP head, she said, prevented her from performing veterinary services.

Labella received Utlang’s letter last January 5, but has not yet read its content.

In a press conference yesterday, Labella said he would prefer Utlang to continue her stint as COSAP head since she has been “effective” in the job.

Labella said Utlang has “efficiently and effectively” implemented City Ordinance 1829 which requires City Hall officials, employees, barangay tanods, among others, to undergo annual drug screening and testing.

“Wala pa nako nabasa ang request ni Dr. Utlang. I’m going to read that and peruse that. Maybe, I’ll call her and ask her why she wants to be reinstated,” Labella told reporters.

In his capacity as acting mayor, he said he can order reshuffling of employees, fire, or hire anyone at the City Hall since he will be holding such position for more than 30 days.

“Under the Local Government Code, if the acting capacity exceeds more than 30 days, you can fire, hire, and perform marriages,” Labella said.

“Off-hand lang, I would rather that she stays there because she has become very effective at COSAP. She is a no-nonsense COSAP head. But of course, we have to listen to her,” he added. — Jean Marvette A. Demecillo/JMD (FREEMAN)