New director assumes DOLE Bicol top post

Regional Director Ma. Zenaida Angara-Campita has assumed on Monday, Feb. 15 as the new head of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Bicol.

Campita replaced Joel M. Gonzales, who is re-assigned as regional director of DOLE Region II. Gonzales formally turned over to Campita the symbolic key of responsibility during the turn-over rites at DOLE 5 Activity Center in Legazpi City on Monday.

Campita’s assumption and Gonzales’ re-assignments were carried out by virtue of Administrative Order No. 24-A, Series of 2021 issued on Feb. 1, 2021 by Labor Sec. Silvestre H. Bello III.

The new DOLE Bicol chief, a resident of Calapan, Mindoro, is the 12th DOLE Bicol regional director since 1983. She was the former regional director of DOLE Region 3 and MIMAROPA or Region IV-B.

Campita said she is not new to places that are frequently visited by calamities as she was assigned as the regional director of Region IV-B.

Now that she is assigned in Bicol, accomplishing targets and delivery of services will be her top priority with the support of the officials, employees and staff of DOLE Bicol, she said.

“With synergy at kapag may pagkakaisa, mas mabilis natin ma-accomplish ang ating mga target para sa ating kababayan sa Bicol. I’ll be meeting with the provincial heads, chiefs and program focals later for me to get to know them and be oriented of the region and our accomplishments.”

Meanwhile, RD Gonzales served his 15-month stint in the region achieving success in the delivery of programs and services amidst the pandemic and successive storms that hit the region in the last quarter of 2020.

One of the highlights of his stay in Bicol include the implementation of programs in response to COVID-19 such as Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged / Displaced Workers (TUPAD), Covid-19 Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP), DOLE-AKAP, Livelihood and Tabang OFW with around 200,000 Bicolanos in the formal and informal sectors benefited from the said programs.

“Sa mga Bicolano, salamat sa oportunidad na mabigyan namin kayo ng serbisyo. Marami akong natutunan at na-experience dito lalo na noong pandemic. Dadalhin ko ang mga ito sa bagong assignments ko.”

Assistant Regional Director Imelda E. Romanillos, TSSD chief Mary Jane Rolda, IMSD chief Cherry B. Mosatalla, and DOLE Bicol’s six provincial field office heads, representatives of Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) and employees witnessed the turnover ceremony.

The ceremony was followed by the awarding of certificate and cash prize to media partners who got the Platinum and Gold Awards in the National Media Awards, namely Christopher Briones and Mavic Conde for communicating DOLE social protection programs.