Noval lauds LGUs in Southern Leyte

HILONGOS, LEYTE, Philippines  — The new DILG-8 regional director, Pedro Noval, Jr., lauded local officials in Southern Leyte for their support of policies and programs implemented by the department.

Noval, over the past two weeks, visited Southern Leyte thrice and saw for himself the compliance of the local government units there with the DILG memorandum circulars, one of which was the suspension of collection of fees and taxes on passing-through vehicles that the agency deemed illegal.

The regional director, accompanied by DILG-S. Leyte provincial director Juan Badocdoc, also met with 15 mayors during the municipal league meeting in Tomas Oppus town.

Noval exhorted the mayors to help make DILG-Region 8 the number one in the country in terms of performance, while Badocdoc urged them to make their LGUs compliant with the full disclosure policy and vie for the Seal of Good Housekeeping to be eligible for the Performance Challenge Fund.

Noval visited the towns of Panaon Island, Libagon, Bontoc, and Tomas Oppus and discussed with local officials the issue on the imposition of illegal fees on passing through vehicles, which the LGUS had vowed to comply with.

Liloan Mayor Shirlita Chong and Municipal Council, in a 2-hour meeting with Noval, committed to suspend the collection of pass-through fees at the municipal road leading to the ferry terminal, effective January 2012. 

Noval told The FREEMAN he would be visiting other provinces in Eastern Visayas to further familiarize himself with concerns of local officials and field operational matters. (FREEMAN)