Top government officials of Negros Occidental welcomed the appointment of Liberal Party secretary general and Western Samar Rep. Mel Senen Sarmiento as the new secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government.

Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. said he is confident the operationalization of the Negros Island Region will be implemented with Sarmiento at the helm of the DILG.

Sarmiento, who had served as mayor before he became congressman, is very capable and has a good record in government service, the governor said.

Lacson said he knows Sarmiento because he was executive secretary of the Mayors' League of the Philippines when he was mayor of San Carlos City.

Sarmiento is a “very cerebral person, and a very dedicated worker,” he said.

Lacson also said that if outgoing DILG Secretary Mar Roxas wins the presidency, he believes he will retain Sarmiento as DILG secretary.

When Sarmiento was executive secretary of the mayor's league, he was very competent and kept the organization focused on the environment and on peace and order, Lacson added.*CPG

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