• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Following investigations into the missing P2.3 million worth of fertilizer from the provincial government warehouse in Brgy. Tabunan, Bago City, Negros Occidental, Provincial Agriculturist Edmundo Raul Causing has resigned his position.
Provincial Administrator Atty. Rayfrando Diaz yesterday said that Causing cited health reasons for his resignation, which will take effect August 1.
“We will attract as many as qualified persons to the position, knowing that food security is one of the important flagship programs of Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson,” Diaz added.
He added that the provincial government wants somebody who is proactive in the implementation of OPA programs.
“We have to innovate and improve what we already gained, especially in farm mechanization, to help farmers in setting up trading posts, and hopefully to digitalize the marketing of their products,” Diaz furthers said.
Causing served as OPA head for a year and four months.
Under the watch of Causing, Diaz said many things happened which are now being investigated.
Two OPA employees had been slapped with 60-day preventive suspensions due to the missing 789 bags of fertilizers worth P2.3 million at the provincial government Rice Processing Center in Bago City.
“There is command responsibility at the OPA, which is being investigated by the Provincial Legal Office,” Diaz said.
He also announced the designation of Chiqui Gonzales as the new head of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office. She replaces Gerla Sario who served as PSWDO officer-in-charge.
Diaz said Sario will return to her old position as a PSWDO division chief.
The Provincial Health and Veterinary Offices are presently temporarily occupied by officers in charge, in the persons of Dr. Girlie Pinongan and Placeda Lemana, respectively.*
