The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in Eastern Visayas has a new head of office after Regional Director Artemio B. Caneja compulsorily retired after 31 years in DILG.
In a short simple rite during the MANCOM meeting last April 20, 2020 at the DILG-8 Regional Office, Dir. Caneja turned over the DILG banner to OIC Assistant Regional Director Atty. Darwin N. Bibar, who will serve as the Officer in Charge Regional Director of DILG Eastern Visayas.
Director Caneja thanked his fellow employees for their support and for the friendships he gained in DILG. He also expressed elation at relinquishing his post to a fellow DILG officer from Eastern Visayas, extending a current streak which began with Usec. Marivel C. Sacendoncillo in 2016. He voiced confidence in the ability of Atty. Bibar to lead the operations in harnessing LGUs in the fight against COVID-19 as well as implementing priority programs such as promoting peace and security, and strengthening community resilience, among others. Further he encouraged the senior management to strive and be ready for bigger challenges in their careers.
Director Caneja rose from the ranks of DILG as a Local Government Operations Officer II in 1989 (member of the 34th Batch), becoming a Regional Planning Officer; Head Executive Assistant; chief of the Technical Services Division; chief of Administrative Division; Provincial Director of Samar and then Leyte; attaining his Career Executive Service (CES) eligibility; being appointed as Assistant Regional Director; and finally Regional Director in December 2018. Fellow employees lauded Director Caneja for his humility, compassion, generosity, competence and dedication to his job. Northern Samar Governor Edwin Marino Ongchuan and Board Member Neil Hernandez likewise sent messages of thanks to Dir. Caneja for his faithful service to the department.
Atty. Bibar in his acceptance speech, recognized the “big shoes he had to fill” after RD Caneja. He conveyed his surprise and sense of humility at being given the opportunity to lead DILG Region 8 so soon after he had been designated as OIC Assistant Regional Director in January 2020. Nevertheless he thanked Secretary Eduardo M. Año and Usec. Sacendoncillo for their trust in his capability, and vowed to do his best for the welfare of the office and its people. Likewise the new DILG-8 OIC Regional Director assured that in the coming weeks he will be firming up plans with other officers improve regional competitiveness. Atty. Bibar as OIC DILG-8 ARD acted concurrently as City Director of DILG Tacloban. Before becoming City Director, he was formerly the chief of the Finance and Administrative Division and before that, Regional Legal Officer. He entered DILG in 1997 as an LGOO II, Batch 40. ###
Prepared by:
MYLES JOSEPH E. COLASITO, LGOO V
Approved:
ATTY. DARWIN N. BIBAR, CESO V, OIC – Regional Director
