Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. yesterday said a total reorganization of Negros Occidental provincial government personnel will be undertaken in the next three months.

Marañon said the decision to undertake a total reorganization was recommended by the department heads of the provincial government at a team-building and strategic planning workshop at Nabulao Bay Beach Resort in Hinobaan town during the weekend.

A study of individual posts will be conducted to determine their relevance, after which if the reorganization is approved by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, all positions will be declared vacant so the governor can assign personnel where they are needed, Provincial Administrator Enrique Pinongan said.

Marañon said a reorganization committee will have to be formed.

The reorganization is needed, to address the priority direction of the provincial government, which requires additional personnel in certain departments tasked with expanded programs, Pinongan said.

PRIORITY PROGRAMS

At the weekend gathering of provincial government department heads presided by Marañon, Pinongan said they tackled the priority programs of the governor, which are food security, tourism development with Mambukal Resort in Murcia as the flagship tourism destination, optimum health care, and natural resources management.

Under the food security program are the drive towards increasing crops and livestock in the province, the establishment of training farms, an integrated rice processing complex, and a rice procurement program, Pinongan said.

Tackled under the optimum health services were the hospital operations enhancement and upgrading program, the Negros Occidental Comprehensive Health Care Program and the enhanced public health services delivery.

NEGROS INC.

Marañon, at the workshop, said his administration would project the province as Negros Inc., and create the Negros First Investment and Development Corp. that will be privately-run focusing on attracting investments in the areas of power, irrigation and tourism.

The governor also said a possible food shortage must be addressed now, and the provincial government must act on the strict implementation of environmental protection, as well as to improve the educational system in the province.

More effort will also be made in agriculture areas to make Negros Occidental rice sufficient in 2013 with the establishment of an irrigation highway to augment the needs of farmers, he said.

He stressed the need to establish the Rice Procurement Program to stabilize the price of palay in the province, new rice mills in key areas of the province with the target of becoming a rice-exporting province, and a hydro-power source in Mambukal to save on electricity bills and gain more revenues for the tourism flagship of the province.

He also stressed the need to reformat the Panaad sa Negros Festival held every April to focus more on food production, culture and income generating areas rather than on entertainment.

MAJORITY THERE

Pinongan said the majority of the department heads were at the strategic planning meeting, and not just a chosen few of a certain clique at the Capitol as being alleged.

The participants were Pinongan, Provincial Consultant on Administration and Finance Roy Balicas, Provincial Planning and Development Council head Ma. Lina Sanogal, Provincial Agriculturist Igmedio Tabianan, Provincial Health Officer Ernell Tumimbang, Provincial Veterinarian Renante Decena;

Economic Enterprise Development Department head Japhet Masculino, Provincial Environment Management Office OIC Ma. Aleta Nunez, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer Liane Garcia, Provincial Human Resource Management Office OIC Ana Theresa Murillo;

Incoming Provincial Supervising Tourism Operations Officer Cristine Mansinares, OIC Provincial Accountant and General Services Officer Lucille Pines, Provincial Treasurer Nilda Generoso, Provincial Assessor Merlita Caelian, Provincial Budget Officer Jose Percival Salado;

Procurement and Technical Services Division Head Ma. Mina Pellejo, Mambukal Resort Manager Ellen Jalandoni Vasquez, Technology and Livelihood Development Center head Ricardo Calsena, Assistant Provincial Engineer Ernie Mapa, and Acting Assistant Provincial Planning and Development Coordinator Lawrence Ledesma.

Commission on Audit-Negros Occidental head Ernie Villa was also present as a resource person on COA rules.

The workshop participants also visited Bayawan City for a briefing and tour of their Solid Waste Management Program, as well as Danjugan Island in Brgy. Bulata, Cauayan where they were oriented by Philippine Reefs and Rainforest Foundation Inc. president Gerry Ledesma on the programs and advocacies of the only privately-run marine sanctuary in the country.*CPG

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