BY CHRYSEE G. SAMILLANO
The Department of Interior and Local Government described as “smooth and successful” the turnover of documents by the Leonardia administration to the transition team of Mayor Albee Benitez yesterday at the Bacolod City Government Center.
“The outgoing administration turned over all documents to the incoming administration in compliance with DILG Memorandum Circular 22-0029 and 0053,” disclosed DILG Bacolod City Director Ma. Joy Meredith Madayag in an interview shortly after the activity.
“We are done. The turnover was smooth and successful,” she added.
Madayag said she will prepare a report of the turnover to the DILG regional office, adding that the Leonardia administration was in full compliance to her agency’s order.
The turnover, she continued, was peaceful.
It was attended by re-elected Rep. Greg Gasataya, who chairs the Benitez transition team, and the different heads of offices of the city government.
Gasataya, head of the Benitez administration transition team, said that they have scrutinized all documents submitted by the technical working group (TWG) of the transition team of the outgoing administration. Mayor Albee Benitez will look into these documents.
Former Mayor Evelio Leonardia issued Executive Order No. 14-A or An order creating the Technical Working Group (TWG) for the 2022 Local Governance Transition Team on April 7, for the effective turnover of responsibilities to ensure continuity in local governance, which is composed of the city mayor as chairperson, all department/office heads, the Secretary of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, and a representative from a civil society organization or people’s organization as its members.
Gasataya said the documents submitted by the Technical Working Group of the outgoing administration are in the custody of Joseph Karol Chiu, who has been appointed Secretary to the Mayor.
He said there were some details based on the documents they have received which they requested the TWG to submit like records of government properties and vehicles assigned to some employees, among others.*
