WIPED CLEAN: Youth office head ‘survives’ sacking spree

By: Emme Rose Santiagudo

JASON Gregorio, head of the Iloilo City Local Youth Development Office (LYDO), was the sole person left in his office following the continuous “overhaul” of City Hall personnel by Mayor Jerry Treñas.

This, as the contracts of service of 10 job hires working under the LYDO were not renewed.

Treñas has said in previous interviews that he will only rehire job hires that were terminated by the previous administration while job hires that were hired during the campaign period will be terminated.

The mayor also intimated that under his new administration, he must work with people he is comfortable with to ensure the smooth delivery of his programs.

“This is a new administration. You have to understand, I will have to work with people I can work with so that we will ensure that the programs will proceed smoothly,” he said.

To recall, Iñigo Garingalao, the long-time chief of the Iloilo City Anti-Smoking Task Force (ICAST); Roberto Dumanil, head of Task Force Anti-Squatting and Illegal Structures (ASIS); and Boarding House Commission (BHC) head Ben Palma were all removed from their posts right after Treñas assumed office.

Meanwhile, Gregorio, Dumanil and other department heads of City Engineering Office, City Sports and Development Office, City Health Office, among others, have filed their respective leaves.

Gregorio refused to comment on the matter.

Department of Interior and Local Government director Roy Defiño explained that the city mayor has the prerogative to designate officials to the LYDO.

“Under sa office of the city mayor ang LYDO. Prerogative sang mayor ang ibutang dira,” he said.

According to Defiño, LYDO works hand in hand with the Sangguniang Kabataan on the youth affairs and matters of the city.

While the LYDO is expected to perform its executive function, the SK, particularly the SK Federation President on the other hand, is more on the legislative function particularly on creation of ordinances in the city concerning youth.

“More on legislative side ang SK in making ordinances and LYDO is more on executive function like planning sa youth development which also must be supported by the SK in the City Council,” he said.