Cebu agriculturist’s office told to fill vacant positions

Local

THE Cebu Provincial Board has recommended filling vacant positions at the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) to improve operations and strengthen services to the agricultural sector.

Board Member Raymond Joseph Calderon, Vice Chairman of the Committee on Budget and Appropriations, raised the concern during the Nov. 5 budget hearing after noting that during the first half of 2026, the PVO utilized only P4 million out of its P28 million annual allocation for salaries and wages.

Provincial Agriculturist Dr. Roldan Saragena said his office has 95 funded regular plantilla positions, of which 55 are filled while the remaining 40 are vacant.

Calderon questioned why the office had not yet filled the vacancies and whether it needed all the positions, considering the number of unoccupied posts.

“Okay ra ba ang inyong department, makalihok na ba with just 55 out of 95? ... If you don't really need the positions, might as well dili lang usa fundan nato,” Calderon said.

Saragena did not directly explain why the vacant positions had not yet been filled. However, he said the office was able to request technical personnel under Job Order (JO) arrangements last year.

He said the office needs additional personnel to augment its workforce, as its existing technical staff are currently handling multiple local government units (LGUs).

“Our technical people, they are handling local government units. Sa pagkakaron, naay technical nato nga mo-handle og two to three LGUs. So kun naay programs and projects in collaboration with the Province, siya ang in-charge,” Saragena said.

He added that the office is planning to fill the vacant positions next year. JOs currently working under the office who have performed well may apply for the regular plantilla positions.

Meanwhile, the PVO is proposing a 104% increase for its budget for 2027.

Under its regular program, the office proposed P30.868 million, while the proposal on the development fund is P330.8 million, totalling to P361.6 million.

Among the major programs for 2027 are the P182.2 million for corn programs; P20.9 million for high-value crops; P37.5 million for rice program; P3.4 million for organic agriculture; P13.4 million for fish ports /fish pens; P18.09 milion for irrigation facilities; Food Always in the Home program P22.8 million; and repair of the Hapian, Barili Fish port amounting to P5 million.

The office is also allocating P18.8 million for the revival of an approximately 11-hectare Cebu Provincial Government property in the town of Pinamungajan, which will be used for fingerling production to support the province's 95 fish cages.

Since the existing facility in Pinamungajan is already damaged, the PVO is also proposing another P3.5 million for the construction of a satellite office, which will include a stockroom and a fenced area.(MyTVCebu)