• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Department of Health (DOH) and Commission on Elections have designated their respective regional directors for newly created Negros Island Region, taking the lead among other national government agencies.
Dr. Razel Nikka Hao disclosed yesterday that she was designated last week as the regional director of DOH Center for Health and Development of NIR, which is composed of the provinces of Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor.
Prior to her present position, Hao, who was accompanied by DOH 6 regional director Adriano Suba-an, DOH Undersecretaries Gloria Balboa and Mary Ann Maestral and Provincial Health Officer Dr. Girlie Pinongan, in a courtesy call to Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, said she used to be the Region 2 DOH director.
On the other hand, Comelec chairman Erwin Garcia also designated Atty. Leonil Marco Castillano as the acting Regional Election Director of NIR.
In an interview at the Governor’s Office, Suba-an said DOH CHD of Western Visayas will also turn over the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital to the NIR.
The DOH CHD for NIR will be located in Dumaguete City, Negros Occidental, according to Suba-an.
Hao said they will initially borrow DOH staff from both Regions 6 and 7.
Lacson said regional offices of Agriculture, Agrarian Reform, Justice, Foreign Affairs, Environment and Natural Resources, as well as Interior and Local Government, Commission on Audit will be set up in Negros Occidental.
However, respective sub-regional offices will be placed in Negros Oriental and Siquior.*
