Mike replaces city’s social welfare head: Yso out, Concha in

THE head of the Department of Social Welfare and Service (DSWS) has been transferred to the Department of Public Services (DPS) as assistant department head.

Dr. Ester Concha, chief of staff of councilor Augustus Pe, will replace Cathy Yso in an acting capacity as soon as Mayor Michael Rama issues a memorandum.

“If that is the mayor’s wish, then I will abide by it. I am just waiting for the formal order before I could vacate my post,” Yso said.

Rama quickly denied that Yso’s relief has something to do with her political alliance with Rep. Tomas Osmeña.

Osmeña will be challenging Rama’s reelection bid next year.

Rama said he wanted Yso to focus on the city’s night dwellers program while she holds her new position at the DPS.

“Let us not put political color to it. If I am to believe all the text messages that I get, I would have dismissed all city hall employees,”  Rama said in Cebuano.

Rama said Yso’s reassignment was just part of a “lateral movement” of City Hall department heads.

Yso is a holder of a master’s degree on social work.

Rama said it was Councilor Jose Daluz III who recommended Concha for the DSWS post.

Daluz was Concha’s lawyer in an election case she filed questioning her defeat in the 2010 barangay election.

The case has been ruled in her favor but is under appeal.

Rama is confident that Concha would also be qualified to occupy the DSWS post because civil service rules are not strict on acting capacity appointments.

As the new DPS assistant department head, Rama wanted Yso to come up with a comprehensive approach in addressing the issues on night dwellers. /Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac