Regional Director Manuel Q. Gotis, CESO III can now focus on the operations of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Regional Office IV-A following his designation as its full-time regional director.
Through Department Order No. 2017-1118 released on October 25, Interior and Local Government Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Catalino S. Cuy have designated Gotis as the full-time Regional Director of the DILG IV-A rescinding his directorial post in the Bureau of Local Government Supervision (BLGS) which he held for four years.
In an interview, Gotis said that the new assignment will allow him to entirely supervise the day-to-day regional operations of the DILG IV-A particularly the implementation and monitoring of its various programs and projects.
“Now that my responsibilities in the DILG Central Office have been relinquished, I will have more time to go around and visit our programs and projects in the region to check the status of implementation, and the concerns and challenges that our proponent LGUs have encountered,” Gotis said.
“Noong divided pa ang aking oras when I was the concurrent OIC-Regional Director, kulang ako sa time na maikot ang region at makita personally kung ano ba ng problema sa implementation ng mga projects,” he explained.
Citing the accomplishment rate of the programs and projects for the current year, Gotis stressed that he will focus on enhancing existing strategic actions that could help LGUs in the region to effectively and efficiently implement their projects.
“Sayang naman ang mga funds na ibinibigay ng ating national government sa mga LGUs kung hindi naman mai-implement yung mga programs. Kung may problema sa implementation, tututukan natin ‘yan,” he said.
The Regional Director also stressed that he will now have ample time to lead the operationalization of the regional office’s special programs such as the Manila Bay Clean-up, Rehabilitation, and Preservation Program (MBCRPP); Assistance to Municipalities (AM) Program; as well as its disaster preparedness and management interventions.
He also vowed to improve the welfare of the DILG IV-A workforce by institutionalizing an incentives and rewards system.
“Kung ano ‘yong pwede nating ibigay sa ating mga employees like incentives, promotions, and appointments to improve their welfare, of course within the bound of auditing rules and regulations and the Civil Service Commission, ay aasikasuhin natin ‘yan,” the Regional Director explained.
When asked for a message for the DILG workforce, Gotis urged its technical and administrative personnel to work harmoniously and always adhere to the core values of the Department in the performance of their duties.
New BLGS Director
Meanwhile, Atty. Odilon L. Pasaraba, former Assistant Regional Director of DILG Regional Office II replaced Gotis as the OIC-Director of the BLGS.
Gotis said that he is glad to turn over his post to Pasaraba who is known to be a passionate and dedicated public servant of the Department.
During his stint as the BLGS Director, Gotis led the advancement of the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) which is the Department’s flagship award program and the development of online systems for the LGUs such as the Online Application for the Foreign Travel Authority of LGU officials.
He started his career in the Department as a job order employee and then later became chief in one of the divisions in the BLGS where he initiated the enhancement of the Local Productivity and Performance Measurement now known as the Local Governance Performance Monitoring System (LGPMS). Gotis was also assigned to higher posts during his stay in the BLGS.
He also worked as the Planning Service Director and Bureau of Local Government Development Director for almost eight years prior to his appointment as the BLGS Director in 2013. His new post as the full-time Regional Director of the DILG IV-A has been a long wait for Gotis as he requested the regional assignment as early as 2011. —R4A
