GOVERNOR Eugenio Jose Lacson said that capitol department heads are on status quo while more than 300 casuals of the previous administration whose contracts ended on June 30 were laid off.

Lacson said more than 400 casual workers mostly nurses at the district hospitals were retained.

“I have asked the department heads to justify the need of those who were laid off,” the new governor on his first day Monday, July 1, said.

He added that there will be no “major shake ups among the ranks of the department heads.”

For now, there will be “status quo”, he said.

As to the casuals assigned at the Capitol-operated district hospitals, Lacson said he has retained “most of them for another three months.”

“We do not want our health services to be hampered,” he said.

They should prove themselves especially if they want to become regular employees, Lacson said.

Lacson added that during his first flag ceremony as governor Monday he asked for the cooperation of the capitol employees.

“I emphasized with them especially the department heads that we shall continue with their respective programs and I assured them that if it goes well credits will go to them but if it fails it’s my fault. I also told them not to be affected with any personnel movement and let us give the governor the benefit of the doubt.

Lacson, along with Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer and the members of the provincial board, took their oath of office during their inauguration ceremony on Saturday, June 29, 2019, at the Capitol grounds.

Lacson promised to continue the good programs of the past administration like the Negros First Comprehensive Health Program which they aim to increase the beneficiaries.

He said that his administration will concentrate on agriculture, education, health, tourism and, above all, the economy. (TDE)