ILOILO – “I’m not in favor of that.”
This was Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr.’s reaction to the Department of Health (DOH) central office’s order to appoint its regional director in Region 7 to oversee Western Visayas’ response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
“It’s not a good idea to change players in the middle of the game,” according to Defensor.
DOH central office called its move a “twinning arrangement” but for Defensor, the scheme is not practical.
“Mabulos kita sang tawo halin sa sagwa, ma-intindi pa sia sang situation diri,” said Defensor.
As of April 9, Western Visayas has 39 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with seven deaths.
The DOH Region 7 director has already his hands full in addressing the COVID problem in Central Visayas, according to the governor. Giving him another assignment at this time would also divide the director’s attention and time instead of focusing all his energy only in his turf, he pointed out.
Defensor was the second highest official in Western Visayas to express opposition to DOH central office’s move. The first was Iloilo City’s Mayor Jerry Treñas.
“It is not right to change your field commander in the middle of a fight. I’ll be very frank, I do not like the idea,” said Treñas.
DOH central office tasked DOH Region 7’s Dr. Jaime Bernadas to take the lead in Western Visayas’ response to the pandemic. It ordered DOH Region 6’s Dr. Marlyn Convocar to just manage the regular operations of her office.
Department Personnel Order No. 23 replacing Convocar was signed by DOH undersecretary Adbullah Dumama Jr. It came right after DOH Region 6 came under fire for classifying the people of Guimbal, Iloilo as persons under monitoring following a case of local COVIOD-19 transmission.
Dumama Jr. explained the decision this way: “It is vital to maintain harmonious partnership with local government units/local chief executives and other stakeholders that play vital roles in this emergency situation.”/PN
