Gwen replaces 4 dept heads as revamp continues

With just six working days left in her term as the province’s chief executive, Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia replaced four more Capitol department heads yesterday.

She issued a memorandum that set aside the province’s general services office (PGSO) acting head Eva Encabo and reinstated Bernard Calderon.

Calderon was head of the PGSO before he was replaced by Encabo when Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale became acting governor.

Encabo was one of the Capitol officials who went on leave just before Garcia’s return from a six-month administrative suspension from the Office of the President.

Earlier, Garcia said she would cancel the leaves of absence of key finance officials that include Encabo, provincial accountant Marieto Ypil and provincial treasurer Emmanuel Guial.

In another memorandum, Garcia appointed assistant provincial agriculturist, Dr. Roldan Saragena to replace Necias Vicoy Jr, as head of the Provincial Agriculturist’s Office (PAO).

Garcia reinstated Engr. Rodel Arreza as head of the Provincial Engineering Office and designated Felixberta Gelicame as chief of the Provincial Planning and Development Office, two positions previously held by Engr. Adolf Quiroga who resigned from government service in April.

The new appointments were immediately effective.

With her resumption to office last June 19, Wednesday, Garcia wasted no time in firing of 70-year-old provincial administrator Eduardo Habin and the reinstatement of OIC Provincial Social Welfare officer Marivic Garces

Recognition

Meanwhile, Provincial Board Member Jose Ribomapil Holganza Jr. together with the province’s Association of Barangay Council (ABC) officials recognized Garcia’s efforts for the benefit of barangays during her term.

Garcia and Magpale were supposedly speakers in the awarding of barangay councilors at the Capitol Social Hall, who got elected for a higher position in the recent elections.

Holganza described their visit at the Governor’s Office yesterday afternoon as a “formal goodbye” and gave her a certificate of recognition.

“This is my second term serving as ABC president for around 6 years so at no other time in the history of the province of Cebu that barangays received a lot of freebies from the provincial government,” he said.

“She came at a time when the province was at the peak of its economic rise, she was able to bring many things to the barangay,” added Holganza.

Garcia’s 3rd and last term as governor ends at noon of June 30. She will be replaced by Governor-elect Hilario “Junjun” Davide III.