CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija – The second highest official of the National Irrigation Administration has
resigned from his post amid purported anomalies within the agency and the
designation of former senator Francisco Pangilinan as presidential assistant
for food security and agricultural modernization overseeing NIA and three other
attached agencies of the Department of Agriculture.
Acting senior deputy administrator
Felix Razo tendered his resignation to DA Secretary Proceso Alcala in a letter
dated May 5. Razo is the second in command at NIA which is headed by
administrator Claro Maranan.
Maranan did not comment on Razo’s
resignation. But Lorna Grace Rosario, deputy administrator for finance, said
it’s Razo’s prerogative to do so if he wants.
In his resignation letter, Razo told
Alcala that the agency is now confronted with a nationwide controversy
regarding the alleged anomalies and irregularities committed by three executive
officials contained in a recent manifesto and mass actions by the NIA Employees
Association of the Philippines and three other groups which called for an
investigation by the Office of the President.
Razo said that while Alcala’s office
already conducted a dialogue with the concerned parties and the Office of the
President has been investigating the allegations, the controversy is
“negatively impacting on the integrity and credibility of the entire management
team” of NIA.
“Such unavoidable scenario has already
cast serious doubt if the top management can still effectively and efficiently
manage and govern the agency. Worst, there is already animosity, distrust and
infraction amongst us. It appears that no solutions are in sight to mend fences
among those with differing stance,” he said.
Razo said as senior deputy
administrator, the issue bothers him no end, adding it is now the defining
moment to “subject ourselves to the fit and proper rule as senior executives”
of NIA.
He said he is tendering his courtesy
resignation to give Alcala a free hand in instituting the needed reforms in the
agency.
In offering to quit his post, Razo
said his office has, in its little way, contributed to the policy reforms
undertaken by the administration. Among which, he said, are the new strategic
plan including vision, mission, objectives and strategies; the manual on
corporate governance, rotation policy of NIA officials, revised delegation of
authority among others.
In a separate interview, Razo said NIA
was already in a mess. “This should come
to an end otherwise it will destroy the organization,” he said.
He
explained that government leaders should have the moral ascendancy to lead. “I
submit myself to that protocol,” he said.
Razo explained that his resignation
was not irrevocable and that it’s up to Alcala to evaluate if he is still fit
to rule. “Let’s respect his decision whatever it is,” he said.
Asked if his resignation was meant as a shot at the leadership of Maranan, he said he was only concerned about himself. “In fact, my teamwork with Administrator Maranan and the NIA management team is okay,” he said. (Manny Galvez)
