DILG chief seeks extended leave of absence

MANILA, Philippines—Interior Secretary Eduardo Año had requested an extension of his leave until end of March to fully recover before returning to work, Local Government Undersecretary Bernardo Florece Jr. said on Monday (March 1).

Florece, officer-in-charge of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) in Ano’s absence, said he had talked with the secretary.

“According to him after 10 days of our conversation he will be out of the hospital,” Florece said. “But then he requested the President for an extended leave until the end of March,” he told reporters.

“He will leave the hospital and then continue his recovery at home but he is okay,” Florece said. “He is doing good,” he added.

Año got sick with COVID-19 twice in 2020. He started his one-month leave last Jan. 11 on the advice of his doctors.

He later extended his medical leave until the end of February.

Florece said that Año was “willing” to work already but other DILG officials wanted him to fully recover first.

“Actually we were the ones who asked him not to work although he is very willing to be back to our office but then that was the cause of his sickness,” Florece said. “He’s too workaholic that’s why he bogged down,” he added.

“That’s what we want to happen, for him to fully recover but he is okay,” Florece said.

TSB