Oca merges RTA, CDRRMD, security

By NITZ ARANCON
Correspondent /

MAYOR Oscar Moreno has merged city hall’s disaster risk reduction, traffic, and internal security managements into one. The mayor also made a former military officer in charge of what he called as “homeland security.”

In an order that took effect on New Year’s Day, Moreno named retired Army colonel, Mario Verner Monsanto, as head of his so-called “homeland security.”

But the “homeland security” is neither a city hall office nor a department. It is merely a “concept,” according to city hall spokesperson Maricel Rivera.

But Rivera said “homeland security” could eventually become a new city hall office or department as envisaged by Moreno.

Moreno’s “homeland security,” she said, would coordinate the efforts of the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Department, Roads and Traffic Administration, and law enforcement groups involved in internal security work.

Except for the latter, Monsanto now heads the CDRRMD and the RTA.

Moreno said, “Effectively, it’s a homeland security. Na-a ang disaster, na-a ang RTA, na-a pud ang security.”

The ex-colonel, a brother of Roman Catholic Cagayan de Oro archdiocese consultor Msgr. Rey Monsanto, replaced lawyer Jose Edgardo Uy effective Jan. 1.

Uy is now the overseer of city hall’s special task force on price coordination, Regulatory and Complaints Board,  and a joint inspection team.

“Siya (Uy) ang morag ombudsman diha, mora siya og legal compliance officer, pero dili iya ang legal officer,” Moreno said.

Moreno said the “unfair criticisms” against the RTA was among the factors that prompted him to give Uy another work.

“Aron makalikay kini  gikan sa mga ‘unfair criticisms,’” Moreno said. “Malo-oy nalang pud ko ni, Atty. Egay (Uy),  kay maayo baya siya —  sinsero, honest… pero dili makilakay na-ay iyang mga na-displease nga kadtong mga nadakpan sa traffic, nga dili siya magpahangyo,   mao na nga daghan nagdumot niya.”

Meanwhile, Moreno has transferred Edwin Dael, the chief of the City Local Environment and Natural Resources Office, to city hall’s general services office. Dael would be its new assistant department head.

Dael was replaced by Engr. Armen Cuenca.

The reshuffling also affected the Office of the City Administrator. It is now headed by Teodoro Sabuga-a who would also continue being the overseer of the City Social Welfare and Development office.

But even with Sabuga-a as the new city administrator, Moreno said his instruction was for Sabuga-a to further strengthen city hall’s social welfare work.

Moreno said his order to reshuffle some of city hall’s officials was meant to improve the local government’s services.

“We need to adjust in order to improve, and in order to be able to  respond to the changing times,” said Moreno, adding that the new year would bring more challenges to city hall.

“There will be more challenges. There will be more obstacles,” he said.