BAGUIO CITY – The local legislative body unanimously concurred the appointment of Engr. Bonifacio dela Peña as the new City Administrator of the local government.
Earlier, Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong transmitted to the local legislative body for concurrence the appointment of the new City Administrator pursuant to existing civil service rules and regulations.
The new city administrator stated that he was tasked by the local chief executive to work out the realization of programs, projects and activities in his 10-point agenda and that he will closely work with the different department heads of city hall for the immediate streamlining of the processes in the issuance of building and other permits being issued to help lessen the lines of people transacting business with the different permit-issuing offices of the city.
He is the current chief executive officer of the BIP Steadfast Ground Inc. and owner of the BIP Engineering and Consultancy Services.
From June 2003 to May 2015, dela Peña served as the Dean of the School of Engineering and Architecture of the Sta. Louis University (SLU) aside from being a professor of the said institution for over 3 decades.
He holds a masters degree in Civil Engineering major in Civil/Geotechnical Engineering at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University after graduating the course Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering at the Saint Louis University (SLU).
Under the provisions of the Local Government Code and similar issuances by the Civil Service Commission, the appointment of the City Administrator and City Legal Officer is subject to concurrence by the members of the local legislative body.
The city administrator is currently tasked to supervise the City Tourism Office, the Sports and Recreation Office and the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO).
When asked on how will he adjust to the shift in his job from a business-oriented person to public service, dela Peña claimed that he will not have a problem adjusting to the situation because he was already in the said situation before when he was in the academe.
On the issue of being the chief executive officer and owner of an engineering company, he explained that he has sufficient technical personnel who facilitate the day to day operations of his business and what he simply does is to oversee the same that is why he can still devote most of his time administering the affairs of the office pursuant to civil service rules and regulations.
Dela Peña assured local legislators that the present administration will be transparent on the implementation of priority development projects that are geared towards making a difference in the current state of Baguio en route to the better Baguio aspiration of Mayor Magalong.
He claimed that concerned departments of the local government will be crafting their short, medium and long-term development plants that will put to work the 10-point agenda of the local chief executive in the next 3 years.
He appealed to officials and employees of the local government for their continuous support for the realization of the present administration’s 10-point agenda beneficial to the greater majority of the populace.
By Dexter A. See
Photo by Armando Bolislis