DILG takes over Cotabato town after mayor, SB member catch Covid
THE Department of the Interior and Local Government has taken over the supervision of Magpet municipality in the province of Cotabato while all of its local officials are on leave after its mayor and a member of the Sangguniang Bayan tested positive for Covid-19.
In a memorandum dated June 15, 2021, Secretary Eduardo Ano designated Region XII director Josephine Cabrido-Leysa, in a concurrent capacity as “caretaker” of Magpet municipality, until such time an official or officials have been tapped or when the leave of absences of the concerned officials are over.
The whole town of Magpet was emptied after its officials from the mayor down to the last councilor had to undergo quarantine due to either infections of the dreaded Covid-19 or they had to be isolated for being in close contacts with their colleagues who tested positive for the silent killer virus.
Magpet Mayor Florenito Gonzaga reportedly issued a statement confirming that he tested positive for Covid-19 although he was already in stable condition and will return to work anytime soon.
Vice Mayor Rogelio Maranon and the rest of the Council had to go on leave also after one of the councilors was also infected with Covid-19.
In a letter to Secretary Ano dated June 14, Director Leysa requested for guidance over the sudden vacancy of the locality.
To prevent any hiatus and paralysis of the local government’s operations and delivery of services, the DILG chief tapped Leysa to oversee the daily routines of the town until such time Gonzaga and the rest of the officials are back.
“As caretaker, please be reminded that you cannot perform the regular duties, responsibilities, functions and powers of the local chief executive, except to oversee and ensure the continued delivery of basic services and to approve disbursements involving regularly recurring administrative expenses, such as payrolls for employees, expenses for the light, water, telephone, telegraph, among other utility and telecommunication services and other rentals,” Ano said in the memo.
