THE Department of Agriculture-Negros Island Region (DA-NIR) has requested Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol to allow the transfer of the P9.2-million research fund of Negros Occidental to the DA in Western Visayas following the abolition of the NIR.
Joyce Wendam, regional director of DA-NIR, said the Bureau of Agricultural Research released the amount for the implementation of research projects in Negros Occidental.
Wendam said that aside from the P9.2-million research fund, they have no other funds for transfer because the DA-NIR has been getting its allocation from Western and Central Visayas.
“We are asking our Secretary for the authority to transfer for easy access of funds by the time Negros Occidental will be reverted to its previous aggrupation,” she added.
As an offshoot of Executive Order 38 dissolving the creation of NIR signed by President Rodrigo Duterte on August 7, each agency is required to create a transition action plan, including the transfer of funds, property and personnel.
The DA-NIR has already submitted its transition action plan to the DA Central Office, DA Western and Central Visayas, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government.
Based on the 60-day transition period, the agency is set to conclude its operations on or before September 30.
Wendam said that aside from the transfer of research fund, they also requested Piñol to extend the contracts of service of their job order (JO) employees until December 31, 2017.
The DA-NIR has 28 JO personnel, but it added six more during the third quarter of the year. The unit has a total of 55 employees, including the regular personnel.
“There was a positive response to our request to extend the services of our JO personnel, who may still be extended further depending on their performance because we need people to man our operations in the province,” Wendam added.
For the regular employees, only eight of the 21 will return to the DA Regional Field Office 6 in Iloilo City as they originally came from there.
The remaining 13 permanent personnel will stay in their respective stations in Negros Occidental.
Due to the NIR abolition, Wendam said the designation of the Agricultural Program Coordinating Officer (Apco) of Negros Occidental will be reactivated.
Every province comprising DA Western Visayas has an Apco representing the regional director.
Despite the dissolution of NIR, “support to farmers and fisherfolk in Negros Occidental will continue as these are DA’s basic services for them,” Wendam added.
