Start forming transition teams ahead of polls – DILG

The Department of Interior and Local Governent (DILG) has required the country’s governors and mayors to form their respective “Local Governance Transition Teams’’ not later than April 8.

DILG Undersecretary and Spokesman Jonathan Malaya said the order was issued to ensure the continuity of service, citing that reelectionists are expected to be too busy with the start of the campaign period for local officials starting March 30 for the May 13, 2019 midterm elections.

Even before the local chief executives (LCEs) become pre-occupied in their campaign sorties , Malaya said the DILG wants an unimpeded delivery of service to the people.

In memorandum Circular No. 2019, DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said each local governance transition team will be headed by the LCE with the vice-chairman being elected by the members.

The members of the team will be the department heads and local government units (LGU), DILG representative and one from a civil society group.

The local governance transition team must then ensure a smooth local government transition to the newly-elected officials, starting with the conduct of an inventory of the said LGU’s properties.

These include immovable properties such as land, buildings, infrastructure facilities, and its improvements and machineries made immovable as well as movable properties like vehicles, office equipment, furniture, fixtures and office supply stocks.

Malaya explained the team must also gather, secure and preserve all official documents of the LGU official transactions, such as governance assessment report and Commission on Audit report for 2018.

These official records also include contracts and loan agreements, comprehensive development plan, local department investment plan and the like.

Citing Commission on Elections (Comelec) Resolution No. 10429, the DILG said that from March 29 to May 12, all appointment, hiring and promotion of personnel and release, disbursement and use of public funds, construction of public works and delivery of materials for public works and issuance of treasury warrants will be prohibited.(Chito Chavez)