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Saturday, January 14, 2006
Pagadian marks Sto. Niño feast
By Richel V. Umel
Lanao Correspondent
THE local government of Pagadian City spent P30 million in November 2005 to accommodate the transfer of various regional offices from Zamboanga City to a designated Regional Government Center here.
Mayor Samuel Co told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro in an interview Friday morning that the amount covers site development of 15 hectares in Barangay Balintawak.
It also includes expenses on access road, construction of new buildings, and renovation of buildings temporarily occupied by national line agencies.
This also went to light and water expenditures, transport of office equipment from Zamboanga City to Pagadian City, and other requirements of the regional offices.
"Though I am very particular and concerned on the plight of employees of regional offices from Zamboanga City who experience dislocation, we cannot sacrifice the quality of public service that the taxpayers expect from government institutions," Co added.
For regional employees of the Department of Education, Co provided a transport bus for employees from Zamboanga City to Pagadian City and vice versa every Monday and Friday.
The transfer of the regional center from Zamboanga City to Pagadian took effect in 1990 under Executive Order 429 during the term of former President Corazon C. Aquino.
Under Executive Order 38 signed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, a reorganization of administrative region was reorganized.
Zamboanga Peninsula covers Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga Sibugay, Dapitan City, Dipolog City, Isabela City in Basilan, Zamboanga City, and Pagadian City.
Co said 30 regional offices have already transferred.
However, the Departments of Trade and Industry, Labor and Employment, and Tourism will remain in Zamboanga City with extension offices in the new regional center.
The City Government of Pagadian spent for the transfer but Malacañang did not give any counterpart.
The Provincial Government of Zamboanga del Sur supported the transfer process, Co said.
He added that Pagadian would take this, as an investment opportunity for it will gain triple return of investment in a few years time.
Co will lead his constituents on Saturday and Sunday in celebrating the Feast of Sto. Niño dubbed as "Pasalamat" or thanksgiving to the Lord's blessing to Pagadian City.
(January 14, 2006 issue)
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