Gov. Edgar Chatto’s HEAT caravans and other innovations that have redefined capitol governance must have been highly successful that critics have resorted to “hate calls”. The latest---and biggest in public and private participations---caravan benefited the constituents in Clarin in the Second District last January 21. The HEAT means “Health and sanitation, Education and technology, Agriculture and food security, Tourism and livelihood.” The full slogan for the strategy is HEAT Bohol Caravan. Extreme partisan critics must have envied the Chatto strategy of bringing government to the doorstep of his constituents that they have started attempting to negate its dramatic gains by calling it “hate” caravan. Chatto observed the “hate” hype in certain paid radio broadcasts as timely as Bohol just earned one more national acclaim for attentive, effective governance---the Gawad Paglilingkod ng Sambayanan (GAPAS) Award.

The GAPAS is the highest national award to a local government unit from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), which cited the HEAT caravans among the best Bohol practices. The HEAT earlier caught fire when its achievements were validated and contributed to the unprecedented Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) proclamation of Bohol as the best-governed province in the country for two consecutive years. This is not to mention the very competence, diligence and credibility of the incumbent leadership in running the province and influencing full development support from national sources, even overseas partners, according to capitol functionaries. By his nature, Chatto would just keep his cool, more than confident in his tested capacities and what more he knows and is sure he could accomplish. But not until the “hate caravan” insinuation was again hyped by politics-induced critics who capitalized, this time, on the recent temporary reassignment of certain province-paid personnel in exigency of service. The detractors apparently tried to depict the transfer as a work of hatred and vindictiveness, which are otherwise not traits of the administration of Chatto and exact opposite, in fact, to the personality of the governor.

“LOOK WHO’S TALKING”

The governor calmly but tellingly confronted this particular issue when it was raised during his weekly media forum, the Kita ug Ang Gobernador, on Friday. The media named former capitol executive assistant Antonieto “Boy” Pernia as having insinuated the “hate caravan” on his paid radio program. Pernia worked for the late Rep. Erico Aumentado since he was governor. Paying highest respect for the dead former governor, Chatto said he has terminated not booted out any appointee of the past capitol leader. “Way bisag usa nga akong gitangtang. Way bisag usa nga akong gipasipad-an,” the governor said, matter of factly, “bisan og nasulod pa sila sa matawag og midnight appointments.” “Nahibawo bitaw mo nga dili hilabtanon si Gov. Chatto. Pero usahay og moabot na sa ponto nga kinahanglan tang mosulti, mosulti man gyud ta. Dili ko manghilabot. Paso ang atong agi. Pero dili mahimong tumban na lang ang atong tiil bisan pag dunay diperensiya ang atong tuhod,” Chatto said.

The governor has gone back to work even if he keeps recovering from a leg operation following a new year’s day freak accident. He reiterated his high respect for the late former governor, and all past governors for that matter. Bu Chatto told Pernia to just “reflect” on what happened when he was with the power in capitol then. “Pila ka tawo ang nasakripisyo? Dili na lang unta ko motubay niini kay di lage ko gusto nga mougkat pa og unsay mga estorya sa nangagi.” Chatto said, “Bisan tuod og midnight appointment, nay usa nga staff nga mahimo gyud og di madayon ka appointed, tangtang gyud unta bisag asang dapita sa civil service rules. Naa, close kaayo sa previous administration.” The past-appointed personnel are still in service, enjoying the permanency of their positions. “Mao ba nay gitawag nila og hate o pagdumot ug panggukod?’ the governor asked.

NOTHING UNUSUAL

Reassigning or detailing certain government personnel to other offices according to the needs and in exigency of service is not an unusual movement in government. Chatto respected and defended the reaasignment of some workers by Vice Gov. Concepcion Lim at the time that she was acting governor while the governor got hospitalized in Cebu City for the leg injury. One government hospital worker in Loon inquired the governor about her reassignment and Chatto said the human resource officer of the province is formally explaining the movement which within the bounds of law and civil service processes. Capitol legal minds found the temporary transfer of assignment, which is not a permanent appointment, to be proper. Provincial Administrator Alfonso Damalerio II cited the very case of a regular driver assigned to the governor’s office but detailed to the office of Aumentado as requested by the congressman when was alive. The said driver has remained detailed to the late congressman’s office until now. “Posible gani nga mao puy nag-drive ni Pernia,” Damalerio hinted in the governor’s weekly media forum (Ven rebo Arigo)