I guess I spoke too soon regarding that one good thing about DPWH Catanduanes District Engineer Edy Ferdinand Joven.
Last week in this column, the DE from Camarines Sur was reported to have refused signing his name on an order from Regional Director Virgilio Eduarte detailing a key section chief to the regional office allegedly upon request of the camp of Cong. Eulogio Rodriguez.
Joven reportedly told the director that the section chief did nothing wrong and that the BAC would lose a key member.
The relieved section chief assumed that the issue was over.
Last Monday, DE Joven (who went on 15-day leave) instructed someone to serve the Feb. 1, 2023 memorandum to Engineer III Pedro Ceferino Guerrero, who is chief of the Materials & Quality Assurance Section.
“In the exigency of service and due to voluminous projects for implementation, you are hereby requested to report to the DPWH Regional Office No. V, Rawis, Legazpi City,” said the memo signed by DE Joven and approved by RD Eduarte.
Guerrero was asked to coordinate with the Chief of the Materials Quality Assurance and Hydrology Division “for further instruction regarding this assignment.”
Understandably, Engr. Guerrero refused to receive the memo and fired back at his boss with a memorandum of his own.
Pointing out that the memo ordering him to report to the regional office was “vague and cannot be understood,” he asked the DE if the voluminous projects he was referring to were for implementation by the Catanduanes DEO or the regional office.
“Please clarify because you are already without authority when it comes to the Regional Office,” Guerrero underscored.
He likewise asked Joven to clarify if he (Guerrero) is being reassigned to the Regional Office Materials Division, as it is only the appointing authority (the DPWH secretary) who can issue reassignment orders.
In seeking clarity of the memorandum’s purpose, the section chief said DE Joven and RD Eduarte must be clear on the issue to avoid misinterpretation and be compliant with Civil Service rules and regulations.
The “voluminous projects” cited by DE Joven are most likely the P2.1-billion worth of infrastructure projects costing P10 million in above that were transferred for implementation to the regional office allegedly upon request of Cong. Rodriguez.
Engr. Guerrero reportedly signed the adverse findings contained in the materials and quality assurance reports on the controversial Capilihan concreting. The reports recommended the removal and replacement of 35 pavement blocks riddled with numerous cracks that was implemented by the congressman’s construction company, ERR Construction.
Incidentally, with Guerrero refusing to get out of his office, the move to replace him by the planning chief is on hold along with the transfer of the TWG official, with whom Guerrero had a disagreement over bidding issues, to the planning post.
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The family of the late Coleta Gianan-Sales, who died last Feb. 14, 2023 at the age of 83 from pancreatic cancer, will be laid to rest this Friday, February 24, 2023, with the Mass at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral set at 1:30 PM.
Tia Colet’s demise comes 13 years after his brother, Tribune founder Fredeswindo Gianan, also died five months after being diagnosed with the same ailment.
Tia Colet’s suffering was mercifully brief, coming just two weeks after going to Manila for a second opinion, while my father was bedridden and in pain for at least three months.
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ANOTHER MONGOOSE PLEASE. A zookeeper needed some extra animals for his zoo, so he decided to write a letter. But unfortunately, he didn’t know the plural of “mongoose.”
He started the letter: “To whom it may concern, I need two mongeese.”
But that didn’t sound right, so he tried again.
“To whom it may concern, I need two mongooses.”
But that didn’t sound right either. Then he had an idea.
“To whom it may concern, I need a mongoose, and while you’re at it, send me another one.”