Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Bohol Mayors Mad at Regional DILG's Arrogance?

If the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) won't respect the municipal mayors in their respective turfs then "we also won't respect it."

Quoting the collective sentiment of his colleagues, Catigbian Mayor Bert Salinas, vice-president of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) Bohol chapter, issued the statement when interviewed by the Chronicle yesterday.

Municipal mayors got irked the way the municipal local government operations officers (MLGOO) were pulled out and designated in their towns without due respect.

He explained that the local chief executives did not question on DILG's policy of reshuffling its personnel (MLGOOs), especially if it is for "harmonious relationship" between them and the DILG. But the way the reshuffling was done was inappropriate, he said.

One particular instance was the way a certain MLGOO assumed office in Mabini town hall last week. Mayor Stephen Rances blew his top when the newly assigned MLGOO did not even bother to pay courtesy call to the mayor who was present at that time.

Salinas described this act as "arrogance," he did not expect of a DILG officer.

He however said that the DILG 7 regional office headed by Dir. Rene Burdeos decided for a "status quo," which means that there will be no DILG personnel movement until December.

For its part, the DILG provincial office cannot do otherwise on the reshuffling of its MLGOOs since it's only following orders from higher ups.