CEBU CITY — An official of the Department of Agriculture (DA) has challenged the personnel of DA-7 (Central Visayas) to make their new building a “seat of service for the farmers” in the region.
Agriculture Undersecretary for Finance and Administration Roldan Gorgonio, Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III, DA-7 Director Salvador Diputado, and National Food Authority 7 Director Fernando Nuñez on Thursday led the groundbreaking ceremony for the regional DA office’s new two-story building in front of the old one in this city which it abandoned in 2010.
“This building is not meant for relaxation of the personnel but this is purely for public service,” Gorgonio said in Cebuano.
Gorgonio, who represented Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol in the groundbreaking ceremony, reminded DA-7 personnel that “the number one asset of the government is the people,” and further challenged them to be accountable at all times.
The undersecretary also reminded them of the campaign against corruption of the Duterte administration, as well as its commitment to good housekeeping and good governance.
Davide, meanwhile, vowed to assist the DA-7 in its needs in serving the farmers of the region and the province of Cebu.
The DA-7 is temporarily occupying a property owned by the city government of Mandaue in Barangay Maguikay, Mandaue City. The old building it abandoned in February 2010 will be demolished to give way to the new building.
With the new edifice, to be built at the cost of PHP80 million, DA personnel in Central Visayas look forward to giving better services to the people, especially the farmers, Diputado told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) after the groundbreaking ceremony.
He recalled that the proposal for a new agriculture building was hatched way back in 2015.
“The proposed building was approved in 2016. But it could not be implemented because we did not have a lot yet,” he said in Cebuano.
Diputado said the department is thankful to Davide for signing the contract of usufruct formalizing the provincial government’s approval while his office is still accomplishing the documentary requirements.
He also thanked the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Central Visayas for allowing the agriculture department to download to them the PHP80-million budget for the building while they have yet to complete the documents for its construction.
As usufructuary, DA-7 is allowed to occupy the property right at the heart of the compound for 50 years. DA-7 information officer Quian Ibarra told the PNA that the contract is renewable for another 50 years, if both parties — DA-7 and the provincial government — would agree.
