Richard Ligad, the City Information Officer (CIO), the Public Order and Safety Office (POSO) head and chief of three of its sub-departments – Anti-Crime Task Force (ACTF) that also covers the Night Patrol (NP), Solid Waste Management (SWM), and the City Traffic Management Office (CTMO)—stated Thursday that the public need not worry because he has no additional compensation for these multiple assignments.
Ligad told the Palawan Daily News (PDN) in an interview, that among his many responsibilities, being the head of the CTMO is his newest additional workload.
Ligad said he was appointed by Mayor Lucilo Bayron as the new head of CTMO and assumed the office Monday, and received the formal written order by Wednesday.
“Additional lang ito sa job eh, wala namang dagdag na sahod ito eh. Sa order ‘additional duties and responsibilities’, so additional lang ito, wala itong dagdag na sahod. Dumagdag lang iyan ng trabaho. Sa CIO ako nagsasahod. Hindi naman puwedeng magkaroon ng double compensation,” said Ligad.
“Nakatipid pa ang gobyerno. Tipid ang gobyerno sa akin. Kasi, ilan ang ano (hawak) ko na walang kukubra na suweldo,” he added.
Ligad even added that the CTMO head’s monthly salary, which was used to be received by its former chief, Engr. Bong Magay, will now go directly to the savings of the City Government.
He said his vision as the CTMO chief is to strictly implement the laws on traffic in Puerto Princesa.
Answering his critics who continuously doubt his capacity to head these many departments, Ligad said his work performance can speak, and stated public cooperation is important.
“Well noong una negatibo rin naman noong tayo ang nilagay sa anti-crime, negatibo din ang pananaw nila dahil akala nila wala tayong background. Noong tayo ang nilagay sa solid waste ganoon din naman. Ang tanong ko lang, hindi naman pumalpak ‘yong mga ahensiyang hinawakan ko. Lahat naman ang success niyan nasa mamamayan kung sila ay makikipag-cooperate wala namang problema,” said Ligad.
“Ayusin ‘yong opisina, mag-strict implement sa mga batas pang-kalsada lalo na ‘yong mga kolorum [na tricycles] kailangan nating ayusin dahil kailangan nating proteksyunan ‘yong mga may franchise,” he added.
Atty. Arnel Pedrosa, the city administrator and legal counsel, also confirmed to Palawan Daily News (PDN) that Ligad only receives his work compensation under his CIO post.
Pedrosa said Bayron appointed Ligad to that position due to his “trust and confidence” in him based on his past work performance.
“Walang additional compensation ‘yong paghawak niya ng iba pang mga project at program ng City Government. Kaya naman siya itinalaga doon ni Mayor Bayron ay because of trust and confidence at ‘yong result ng kaniyang performance sa trabaho. Although nakikita din talaga namin kung minsan ay exhausted na exhausted na si Mr. Ligad dahil sa dami ng kaniyang hawak, pero kasi siya rin talaga ang pinahawak niyan ni mayor dahil siya ang humahawak ng Public Order and Safety Office (POSO),” Pedrosa said.
Pedrosa added aside from POSO’s many underling departments, it also covers the departments of Bantay Gubat and Bantay Dagat, but are not added to Ligad’s workload yet as he has a lot on his plate already.
He noted Ligad now has a direct supervision to CTMO being its chief.
Pedrosa said former CTMO chief Engr. Bong Magay is now working under the City Mayor’s Office (CMO), helping in the implementation of the administration’s infrastructure projects.
“Marami-rami ang natipid ng City Government siguro mga apat na positions ‘yan eh. Apat na positions ang natipid. Kaya naman talagang gawin iyan ng isang tao lang, ‘yon nga lang kailangan may tao ka din under you na can assist you doon sa supervision. Kailangan lang ay mayroon kang mga able assistants. Besides, ay marami siyang assistant naman na able at capable na mag-peform under him,” said Pedrosa.
He further stated Bayron also asked Ligad if he can do the job, and the latter said “yes.”
Pedrosa said Ligad told Bayron the City Government may for a while test his performance as the CTMO chief.
“Sabi niya (Ligad) subukan niyo muna ako, sir. Ngayon kung hindi kayo ma-satisfy sa performance ko ay mag-lagay kayo ng iba. Welcome sa kaniya ‘yon,” he said.
Palawan Daily News asked Pedrosa if it is right, in the administration’s perspective, to place such many responsibilities over one person’s shoulder only while there are also many other qualified people who can take charge – ones who are also waiting to have jobs they can perform well.
He said anyone may apply for the position, but they will be needing to have the trust and confidence of Mayor Lucilo Bayron.
“Wala namang problema ‘yon kung mag-a-apply na mayroong trust and confidence si mayor. Kasi mga co-terminous positions ‘yan. If you will notice also ‘yong position ko mapapansin mo dalawa rin: administrator at city legal officer,” He said.
When asked by Palawan Daily News if positions were just given to Ligad due his close connection to the mayor, Pedrosa said it has nothing to do with that.
Pedrosa also said Ligad is not the only one who oversees many departments at the same time.
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