Sunday, July 18, 2004 Concerned group urges DPWH to appoint 'eligible' execs By Minerva Zamora-Arceo
SAN FERNANDO -- A group of concerned Pampangueños Friday urged the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 3 to appoint qualified officers, particularly in the province, who have passed the required Civil Service Commission (CSC) eligibility.
The group, who asked not to be named, questioned the appointment of Rico Guilas as officer-in-charge (OIC) of the Pampanga 1st Engineering District since December 2002.
They claimed that Guilas has been occupying the post as OIC district engineer despite his lack of required eligibility from the CSC.
Sun.Star learned from the DPWH Region 3 administrative office that a District Engineer (DE) is a salary grade 25 and 3rd level position (managerial). DPWH guidelines also revealed that four of the basic requirements and qualifications for the DE position are as follows: a bachelor's degree in Engineering, at least three-year supervisory experience, a Career Service Executive Eligibility (CSEE), and Career Executive Service (CES).
Guilas, DPWH records showed, has no CSEE and CSE.
But Remedios Laurel, DPWH Region 3 administrative officer V, said Guilas is only serving in an acting capacity.
"He is only appointed as Assistant District Engineer (ADE) and concurrently acting as OIC of the Pampanga 1st Engineering District. The CSEE and CSE are requirements for a full-pledged DE," Laurel said.
Laurel added that in fairness to Guilas, he has already passed the Management Aptitude Test Battery (Matb) with a high grade of 81.64 percent. According to Laurel, Matb is a pre-requisite for the CES.
"After passing Matb, the Career Executive Service (CES) board will validate and evaluate Guilas' performance. This usually entails extensive interviews with the applicant's (Guilas) supervisors, co-workers, and sub-ordinates. After that he would already be qualified for the Career Executive Service exam and interview," Laurel said.
Laurel added that Guilas and engineer Ernesto C. Reyes, head of the Pampanga Sub-district Engineering Office in Angeles City, were both assigned as acting heads by virtue of a Department Order issued by the DPWH Central office.
"They serve in the pleasure of the Secretary. Their assignment as OIC could be shorter or longer, with no definite time, depending on the decision of the Secretary," she said.
But the group said this should not be the case because the positions should be offered to more qualified personnel or engineers, who have already passed the required CSC examinations for such managerial posts.
Sun.Star tried to interview Guilas but was told that he is in Manila for a business conference.
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