Field officers and personnel of DILG-7 led by Regional Director Leocadio Trovela joined the last leg of the three-day virtual ‘kamustahan’ with Secretary of the Interior and Local Government Eduardo Año today, September 28 via Zoom.

Año expressed his gratitude to the field personnel in Visayas and Mindanao for fulfilling their mandate despite the heavy workload, emphasizing their crucial role in attaining the Department’s accomplishments and overcoming its challenges.

“You, the dedicated personnel of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, you are the heart and soul of the DILG and the reason behind the Department’s continued success in delivering whatever mission the President assigned to us. At malaki ang aking pasasalamat na ako ay inyong sinasamahan at tinutulungang tugunan ang lahat ng direktiba ni Pang. Duterte, gayun din sa lahat ng mga tungkulin na nakalatang sa ating mandato,” he said.

“Tunay na nakakalula ang mga bilang ng ating mga nakamit sa nakalipas na mga taon. Ngunit batid ko na hindi rin biro ang mga sakripisyo na inyong inialay para magampanan ang inyong mga tungkulin….As we all braced the ongoing public health crisis and try to recover from its economic drawbacks, I count on each and everyone of you to remain steadfast to your duty to serve the people,” he added.

Año also recounted his experience of surviving COVID-19 twice and further urged the participants to stay safe and strictly follow the minimum public health standards to ensure the continued delivery of services to the clients amid the pandemic.

Meanwhile, Assistant Secretary for Plans and Programs Francisco Cruz discussed the DILG’s challenges and response to the pandemic as well as the accomplishments of the Duterte administration and plans of the Department for 2022.

For her part, Assistant Secretary for Human Resource Development Florida Dijan reminded the field officers to live up to the Department’s brand of service “Matino, Mahusay, at Maaasahan” as the country adopts to the new normal.

The series of virtual interface was initiated  by the Local Government Academy (LGA) in celebration of the Civil Service Month to acknowledge and commend the efforts of the Department’s technical officers and personnel across the country.

Also present were DILG Cebu City Director Atty. Ian Kenneth Lucero, DILG Cebu Provincial Director Jhoaden Lucero, DILG Bohol Provincial Director Jerome Gonzales, DILG Siquijor Provincial Director Dennis Quiñones, DILG Lapu-Lapu City Director Jonah Pino, DILG Mandaue City Director Johnjoan Mende, and DILG Negros Oriental OIC Farah Diba Gentuya.

Other highlights of the virtual activity included the Department’s accomplishments and initiatives, and DILG School of Local Governance and Capacity Development Awards for Catalysts of Excellence (CapDev ACE).