BY GEROME DALIPE IV
ILOILO City – Engr. Neil G. Ravena has assumed his new position as the head of the General Services Office (GSO) of the city government.
Ravena took his oath as full-fledged head of the GSO before Mayor Jerry P. Treñas following the approval of his appointment by the Iloilo City Council during their regular session on Feb. 7.
Before his appointment, Ravena also served as GSO assistant department head and head of the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO).
“Ravena brings a wealth of experience and expertise to his new role. (Ravena’s) confirmation underscores the city council’s commitment to ensuring effective governance and service delivery to residents of Iloilo,” the city council said.
Interviewed after getting the council’s approval of his appointment, Ravena said he intends to introduce digital innovation called the General Services Management System, which digitalizes the operations of their office. These include quick access to employee property accountability.
His functions include external and internal tasks including property procurement and management of city properties.
“We need to reconcile the documents of inventoried equipment and furniture owned by the city government,” said Ravena.
He admitted though that one of the challenging functions of a GSO chief is the property and asset management of the local government unit and titling lands within the city.
Apart from being the former CENRO chief and GSO assistant head, Ravena has also held key management positions at the Iloilo City Sanitary Landfill and the City’s Solid Waste Management Board Secretariat.
A licensed electrical engineer by profession, Ravena is also a certified Pollution Control Officer and has over 20 years of professional experience in the fields of energy and environmental management.
His leadership and exemplary service to Iloilo City in crafting and implementing energy and environmental policies has led him to be nominated in the government’s Dangal ng Bayan (Outstanding Public Officials and Employees) Awards.
He graduated from the Central Philippine University and holds a Master in Public Management degree from the Ateneo de Manila University.
Janice Sy, meanwhile, will serve as acting head of CENRO./PN
