PIA 7 OIC director to start office today

PIA 7 Assistant Director Fayette Riñen to take over after PIA director reached mandatory retirement age of 65

PHILIPPINE Information Agency (PIA) 7 Assistant Director Fayette Riñen will assume today as OIC director following the retirement of Minerva Newman last Friday.

Newman bowed out of office after reaching the mandatory age of 65 yesterday.

Riñen, who joined PIA in 1994, rose from the ranks – from information officer 2 to assistant regional director.

“Being in government should be fulfilling to any civil service servant,” Riñen said.

“In my case, it’s information, but specifically development communication. When we talk about people empowerment, we talk about a well-informed citizenry,” Riñen said.

Media

But Riñen said they can’t do it alone so they need partners, like the media, to help disseminate information to the public about the programs and services of the government.

Riñen said her job is related to her first course, BS mass communication. She is currently taking a master’s degree on communications.

Meanwhile, Director Ahmed Cuizon of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) 7 was designated by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) as LTFRB 8 director in a concurrent capacity.

Concurrent

“In the interest and exigency of the service, you are hereby designated as officer-in-charge, Office of the Regional Director, LTFRB 8, Tacloban City in concurrent capacity, effectively until this order is revoked or extended further,” read the Special Order 2016-492 signed by DOTr Sec. Arthur Tugade.

Cuizon has a third-level eligibility based on his Civil Service Commission records, which allows him to hold government positions as high as depart- ment undersecretary or assistant secretary.

The designation of Cuizon was issued last Dec. 1 after LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra served a three-month suspension against LTFRB 8 Director Arthur Saipuddin issued by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales.

Complaint

The suspension of Saipuddin stemmed from a complaint by transport leader Cesar Licopit of Burauen, Leyte, who accused him of granting franchise to REP Tours in defiance of an LTFRB moratorium.

Delgra was surprised that Saippudin is LTFRB’s longest serving regional director in Region 8 despite complaints against him by transport operators in Samar and Leyte.

On the other hand, Cuizon became LTFRB director a few years ago. He was made assistant manager of Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority.

He was later reinstalled as LTFRB 7 director upon the request of the LTFRB Board.