The Department of Interior and Local Government in Region 8 now has a new director as William Paler bid goodbye to 41 years of government service and turned over the banner and symbolic key to the office to officer in charge Francisco Jose.
The simple turnover ceremony at the DILG-8 office was witnessed by DILG provincial directors, Tacloban City, Leyte, local government operations officers, and office staff. Paler and his wife, Virgencita, thanked the officers and personnel of DILG-8 for their support in the 11 years that Paler served in Eastern Visayas.
William Paler bids goodbye to the Department of Interior and Local Government in Region 8, the Eastern Visayas
Jose, meanwhile, expressed his gratitude to DILG-8 personnel for their warm welcome even as he promised to continue and build upon the programs and accomplishments of Paler.
Being a stalwart of the department, Jose, originally of DILG-12 (Koronadal City), brings with him a wealth of experience to Eastern Visayas, having served the agency in various capacities in several regions. Jose entered the then-Department of Local Government and Community Development in 1974 as a barangay development worker in Davao del Sur, and rose to the position of director while serving Regions 9, 10, 11, and 12.
He is active in civic and community groups, being the chairman of the Bansalan Cooperative Society in Bansalan, Davao del Sur, as well as past president of the Rotary Club of Bansalan.
Paler, who first came to the region as assistant director in 1998 before being named regional director in 2002, will leave a legacy of decisive leadership, strengthening institutional partnerships, upholding performance in the agency’s targets, stressing merit and fitness in promotions and recruitment, while giving weight to employee welfare and concerns.
Under Paler’s term, several barangays in Eastern Visayas, which includes the provinces of Leyte and Samar, won in the national search for Outstanding Lupong Tagapamayapa in the national level and the search for Most Outstanding Sangguiniang Bayan, a program held in coordination with the Philippine Councilors League.
[Source: Philippine Information Agency]
