DILG launching its NIR reg’l office today

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — The Department of the Interior and Local Government will launch its regional office in this city, this morning.

Interior Secretary Mel Sanen Sarmiento was set to lead the launching ceremonies at the Capitol, according to Undersecretary Austere Panadero, in his letter to Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. dated December 8.

Designated regional officials of DILG and its attached agencies-–Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology-–under the newly created Negros Island Region, or Region 18, will also be introduced.

Only regional directors of PNP and BFP were named but appointees for DILG and BJMP will be known during the ceremonies.

Chief Superintendent Conrado Capa was named officer-in-charge of the Police Regional Office-18, while Fire Senior Superintendent Wilberto Kwan Tiu was appointed regional director of BFP-18.

After the DILG-18 office’s launching, the second meeting of the Negros Island Region-Technical Working Group and the organizational meeting of Regional Peace and Order Council will also be conducted, with Sarmiento presiding.

The NIR-TWG meeting will tackle the draft of the Implementing Rules and Regulations and the status of the transition of the line agencies, in accordance to the requirements of Memorandum Circular No. 81, directing all government agencies to extend full assistance to the transition of the new region.

Under the memorandum, all government agencies should have appointed their interim directors not later than October 1 and complete their transition by January 1, 2016.

The organizational meeting of the RPOC, to be held in the afternoon, will discuss security updates and arrangements of the new region. —Marchel P. Espina (FREEMAN)