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Thursday, December 09, 2004
Pangan: A day in the life of an administrator
By Benjie R. Pangan
TYPHOONS, like other forces of nature, are great levelers, as we have witnessed when Unding, Violeta, Winnie and Yoyong unleashed their varying degrees of fury on hapless residents of this country. We are only too aware that their very destructive effects gave us rude awakenings although we never learn from the disasters piled one after another on our already poor state of affairs. This is one revelation we cannot escape from, rather, it is one encounter we should not miss, as in a matter of life and death..
One revelation I want to write about and share with our readers is the very efficient and effective hands-on management style of the Mabalacat local government's municipal administrator, Restituto Fernandez Sibal Jr., or Jun F. Sibal as he wants to be known and called.
Jun, a former topnotch municipal councilor, rises early and starts his day scanning the broadsheets and this paper, then proceeds to evaluate the previous day's activities at the municipal hall and then ponders on his next moves to improve on the municipality's delivery of basic services.
A regimented fellow since his school days, Jun brought with him to work his zeal to improve on things stagnant and stationary, introduced novel but relevant ideas to embellish otherwise stale matters and put his indelible stamp of excellence, hard work, foresight and vision during his stint at the Municipal Council.
If an entity has its board of directors, chief executive officer (CEO) and chief operating officer (COO), the LGU of Mabalacat has its administrator as its workhorse, operations man and implementor, all rolled into one.
Into the job of administrator, Jun brought changes to maximize the efficiency and output of employees, be they regular, casual or contractual. For Jun, loafing is a mortal sin since the taxpayers' money pays for the services of the municipal hall workers. Not one given to idle hours, he wants the employees to exert more productive hours to produce good if not excellent results from their respective assignments.
"I would rather stay unpopular but productive," declares Jun, "rather than be complacent and ambivalent and produce mediocre results."
Like the feisty lady senator Santiago, Jun F. Sibal has been the cynosure of the eyes of his detractors and, surely enough, several threats have been hurled his way ever since he instituted innovations in the rank-and-file and, in the process, incurred the ire of the workers whose services have been disengaged.
When asked if he found difficulty in adjusting to the work of an executive after years of exposure in the local government unit's legislative branch, Jun S. quickly snapped: "There will not be a world of difference if you just follow a set of norms. Luckily, I had a set of disciplines which blended well the two functions."
"I do not intend to become a brother's keeper," avers Jun, adding "I only envision an effective workforce which can deliver and excel and thus become a fine reflection on the good image of our local government headed by the indefatigable and equally hard working mayor Boking Morales. Time is gold and should be utilized positively rather than be wasted on inconsequential undertakings."
Judged from the reaction of those who believe in his cause, Jun F. Sibal is one effective, relevant and ideal municipal administrator since he has brought significant changes in the working style and ethics of the LGU's workforce. Of course, there are dissenters but they are few and, by latest statistics, they are a fast diminishing breed.
A member of the local finance committee composed of the budget officer, municipal treasurer and a member of the Municipal Council, Jun sees to it that the finances of the municipality are now prudently used and expended only for legitimate purposes. He regularly monitors movements of the coffers and the human traffic in and out of the municipal hall and, always a keen observer, he is quick to call the attention of officials and employees. Sensitive to a fault, he immediately reminds the concerned individuals about the need to follow guidelines.
Among the first to arrive at the municipal hall, especially during the Monday flag ceremony, Jun stays long after the Friday flag retreat to see that the "house" is in order and its fixtures intact, so to speak, and ready for next Monday's public service. At the end of the day, Jun F. Sibal sums up his satisfaction like so:
"... the day is done and the darkness falls from the wings of night
as a feather is wafted downward from an eagle in its flight..."
Jun F. Sibal, the eagle in municipal administration, comes to roost after an eventful, meaningful day!
* * * * *
Mabalacat fire marshal Rufino Santos claims that the minor fire incident in Marcos Village, Mabalacat, could have been avoided if the residents there were adequately informed about the steps to take in case of fire and emergency.
He told this writer that initial investigation showed that the barangay hall at Marcos Village, headed by Bonifacio Estanislao had no landlines or telephones and no other means of communication which could have been used to call the police, fire and other emergency relief agencies or offices.
So, in the recent fire which claimed the lives of two minors, the fire station officials and men were informed only by the town's police chief, Supt. Rosvi Manulid, about two hours after the first sign of fire. In spite of the late notice, says Inspector Santos, his firefighters rushed to the scene, only to find out that the fire had already been extinguished by the barangay officials and residents themselves.
In the light of this experience, Santos has proposed to conduct a dissemination or information drive among the residents of Marcos Village and nearby villages with emphasis on fire safety and prevention, installation of landlines and the posting of emergency numbers to call in conspicuous places in the barangays.
(December 9, 2004 issue)
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