MANILA — Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Undersecretary Dominador Say has resigned.
In an interview, Say revealed that he submitted his courtesy resignation to President Rodrigo Duterte through Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea last March 9 and was accepted on Tuesday.
“I did not put there immediate, what I said is effective upon approval. It was accepted earlier,” he said.
Asked on what are his reasons for resigning, the outgoing Labor official said he want to spare Secretary Silvestre Bello III from intrigues.
“I will spare the Secretary from intrigues that he is pro-labor based on what I read that he is supposedly softie on management. That is not true. So I just decided, okay, I’ll step back. Give the Secretary somebody who can deliver better than I can,” Say said.
“I’m not pro management. Let me be clear about that, perceived as, and it is the Secretary that is being affected, being criticized for supposedly being kind to management,” he added.
“For the reasons that I have relayed to Sec. Silvestre Bello III in a letter addressed to him this same day, I am hereby tendering my courtesy resignation effective upon your approval of the same,” he said in his resignation letter.
Say, meanwhile, expressed gratitude to Bello for giving him the opportunity to work in government.
“I have had a long career in the private sector and I have never attempted to work in government, but my strong belief and faith in your vision for the Filipino people prodded me to stand in line and offer my services. You gave me that fortunate opportunity when you appointed me your Undersecretary at the Department of Labor and Employment,” the DOLE official added.
The outgoing DOLE official said he will return to the private sector after his stint in government.
Say, meanwhile, defended Bello against criticisms on the policies of the Labor Department.
“It’s unfair to criticize the Secretary because of policies of the Department and who is responsible for policies. I’m Usec for policies. So being the public face of the Department, the Secretary is the one being blamed. When I submit policies to him it came from my intellect,” he said. (Ferdinand Patinio/PNA)
