BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – The Department of the Interior and Local Government installed its regional officials under the newly-created Negros Island Region, or Region 18.
Interior Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento and Philippine National Police Chief Director General Ricardo Marquez, led the launching of the DILG-18 regional office at Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office headquarters at Camp Alfredo Montelibano Sr., in this city last Saturday.
Sarmiento also introduced the appointed regional heads of DILG and its attached agencies – the PNP, the Bureau of Fire Protection and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.
Margie Biligan was named officer-in-charge of DILG-18, Chief Superintendent Conrado Capa was appointed head of the Police Regional Office-18; Senior Supt. Wilberto Kwan Tiu of the BFP-18; Senior Supt. Hernan Grande of the BJMP-18; Joseph Celis of National Police Commission-18; and Senior Supt. Ernesto Agas of the PRO-18’s Regional Training School.
Sarmiento said the NIR-Technical Working Group has thoroughly study the needed funding, staffing and location of the line agencies in the new region. “I ask for your indulgence on the birth pains as we transition into the new region. I’m also asking for the patience of the regional heads while the permanent regional offices will be established,” he said.
Marquez, for his part, said the PNP will help in addressing the birth pains of the new region, by fulfilling the staff requirement of PRO-18.
For the meantime, the office of the PRO-18 was set-up at the NOPPO until a permanent site will be established, Marquez said, adding that the PNP had already released P10 million for the repair of some of the facilities in the provincial police headquarters. (FREEMAN)