CABANATUAN CITY, October 30, 2011–The regional irrigation manager of the Angat Maasim River Irrigation System (AMRIS) – the country’s third largest national irrigation system – finally bade goodbye to agency employees in an emotional farewell nearly marked by tears.
In a speech turning over the reins of the regional office to his successor Reynaldo Puno during ceremonies at the NIA Region 3 office in Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan Thursday, Manuel Collado tried to hold back tears as he thanked the NIA family for their support in his stint as regional chief for 13 years.
Collado asked them to support Puno then finished his speech. Puno was relieved from the Cabanatuan-based Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation Systems, the operator of the Pantabangan Dam.
Collado was reportedly not in his “best element” over the last few days because of the revamp ordered by President Aquino and which was implemented by Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala and NIA Administrator Antonio Nangel.
The revamp was ordered by President Aquino after NIA accomplished only 25 percent of its target of 30,958 hectares while spending over 60 percent of its P14.88 billion budget. The overhaul has touched off a firestorm among top-level officials of the agency, particularly since it was done without prior consultation with affected people.
Alcala said those affected should comply with the revamp or quit. “When you enter government service, when you are told that you will be assigned in a particular place and you don’t want to be transferred, then just put up your own business,” he said in an interview with newsmen in San Jose City last week.
While Collado was delivering his speech, he paused briefly, his hands shaking a bit. A lady photographer of the agency was seen shedding tears.
Collado tried to hide the pain, smiling occasionally and even tried to make fun of the event. When the ceremonial key was handed by him to Puno, he playfully tried to grab it back, drawing laughter from those around him.
Later, Collado, who will be re-assigned to NIA Region 1 office based in Urdaneta, Pangasinan, said his biggest legacy in the regional office is its becoming financially viable under his watch.
Collado, a bosom buddy of Nangel, declined to comment on his sudden relief. But NIA sources said Collado was “extremely disappointed” because he was reportedly assured by Nangel he would not be included in the list of those who would be reshuffled.
A NIA official said Collado was given the run-around since the recommendation to replace him was submitted to the NIA Board chaired by Alcala last September 5. It was approved on September 14. The memorandum circular from Nangel came out only on October 14.
“All along, we were told that Manager Collado would be retained. They hid the relief order up to the last minute,” one of the sources said.
Another NIA insider said that while the reshuffle is the prerogative of Aquino and Alcala, this should not be selective and give favors to some officials. “There were some who were not removed so it’s clear they enjoyed protection,” he said.
The CMN tried to get Nangel’s comment but he could not be reached. His aide said he just arrived from an official trip in Korea.
But another source said Nangel was first hesitant to implement the revamp but was pressured to when Alcala confronted him. “Ano i-implement mo ba ‘yan? Kung hindi mo kaya ako ang magi-implement (Will you implement that? If you can’t, I myself will implement it),” the source quoted Alcala as telling Nangel.
The top-level NIA revamp affected three officials from the NIA central office, eight regional managers, two operation managers and one project manager.
Alcala said the Aquino administration needs to implement the revamp because many of them are overstaying in their posts and have so familiarized themselves with the local conditions that they are no longer effective in their posts.
“That’s where the problem lies. They are no longer productive. And they have become friends with local politicians,” he said, without naming names.
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