The newly appointed head of Palawan Council for Sustainable Development has officially assumed office today, April 1.
Atty. Teodoro Jose Matta took oath on March 31, before Vice Governor Dennis Socrates, Vice Chairman of PCSD and witnessed by Vice Admiral Rene Medina of Western Command and Atty. Adelina Benavente-Villena, who served as officer-in-charge of PCSDS before the appointment of Atty. Matta.
Governor Jose Chaves Alvarez, chairman of PCSD and other officials also witnessed the oath-taking thru Zoom teleconference due to the implementation of enhanced community quarantine caused by corona virus disease 2019 or COVID-19.
After the oath taking ceremony, a council meeting was immediately conducted to discuss important matters like the “Proposed resolution providing the guidelines in the processing of PCSD permits, clearances and other similar instruments during the period covered by the Enhanced Community Quarantine due to COVID-19 pandemic” and other projects.
“Apektado tayo because the paramount concern is the observation of ECQ so we are now working electronically even ‘yung conference namin kaya limited ang galaw natin but we assure the people that we will work continuously like now na maraming ibinigay na mission ang chairman,” Matta told Palawan Daily in an interview.
Matta also said that as the new executive director of PCSD, he will focus on the review of programs to be implemented this year and check its relevance and the preparation and development of Palawan.
“Magkakaroon tayo ng re-alignment ng priorities at ng re-focus and re-interpretation ng mandate of the law kasi before nag-concentrate tayo sa conservation when we should also be looking sa human security which is kasama na dyan ang economic, social justice pati narin ‘yung food security at saka sustainability and self-reliance ng Palawan as a province kasama na ang city,” added Atty. Matta.
Meanwhile, the new PCSD head said that there will be no revamp or re-organization under his leadership as he will evaluate first the performance of each and every one.
“Experience taught me to study first before you decide, so pag-aaralan pa natin kung kailangan ba talaga o hindi ang re-organization, tingnan muna natin ang trabaho nila,” he said.