Rama reshuffles CH dep’t officials

CEBU, Philippines — To ensure efficient delivery of services, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama announced a reorganization of city hall department heads effective immediately.

Rama said he is reorganizing his department officials to make services at city hall more efficient and achieve his administration’s goal of making Cebu City like Singapore. City administrator Suzanne Ardosa said yesterday’s announcement was just initial and more changes will be implemented in the coming months.

Rama has reinstated city treasurer Mare Vae Reyes after having relieved last year because of her involvement in the alleged garbage deal anomaly. Reyes was among the City Hall officials charged by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) before the Office of the Ombudsman because of the controversy.

Cebu Environmental Sanitation and Enforcement Team (CESET) head Grace Luardo-Silva is now the new head of the Prevention Restoration Order Beautification Enhancement (PROBE).

Both Reyes and Silva were recipients of the mayor’s special award during the last Charter Day celebration of the city government. Despite their involvement in the alleged anomaly, Rama said he is looking beyond the controversy because he felt their sincerity in their performance.

Rama met all the city hall department heads yesterday and told those who were not part of the reorganization that they have three to six months to prove that they deserve the positions they have now.

The other officials affected by the reorganization include Atty. Jerone Castillo, who was appointed as new head of the City Legal Office on top of his being special assistant to the mayor. City Legal Office chief Atty. Eugene Orbita is now the head of the Center for Good Governance.

Office of Senior Citizen’s Affairs (OSCA) head Vicente Esmena is transferred to the Barangay Affairs Office but he will be part of the senior citizen council. OIC City Assessor Liezl Calamba was transferred to the Internal Audit Office while Maria Teresa Rosell is now the new city assessor.

Atty. Collin Rosell was designated as head of the Bids and Awards Committee on top of his being the mayor’s executive assistant.

Engr. Lowell Corminal was also transferred to DGS-Building Management Services while Engr. Nieva Bayucot now heads the Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW) replacing Engr. Kenneth Enriquez, who was appointed head of the SRP-BRT Technical side.

Dr. Anton Reposar was also named the new Cebu City Medical Center’s chief of hospital. The Cebu City Office for Substance Abuse Prevention (COSAP) is now headed by Atty. Homer Cabaral and assisted by Atty. Jan Gabriel Ramos. Former COSAP head Jonnah Jan Rodriguez is left on a floating status.

Atty. Rosell explained the reorganization underwent a long process and is not something designed for having a menial or trivial purpose.

“The purpose of that is to assure efficient delivery of services. There were no hitches and no problem in getting that one fixed…This is just initial…and mind you, each one will be tried through time,” Rosell said.

“The reorganization was not that hard for the admin because it is founded in the purity of heart and intentions…It was all about service and service …And service to humanity is service to the Almighty God,” he added. (FREEMAN)