Samar, Philippines

administrative machinery 2...

        2.8 Office of the Provincial General Services

            2.8.1 Functions and Responsibilities

(1) Formulates measures for the consideration of the Sanggunian and provides technical assistance and support to the Governor in carrying out measures to ensure the delivery of basic services and provision of adequate facilities pursuant to Section 15 of the Local Government Code of 1991 and which require general services expertise and technical support services;

(2) Develop plans and strategies and upon approval thereof by the Governor, implements the same, particularly those which have to do with the general services supportive of the welfare of the inhabitants which the Governor is empowered to provide for the under code;

(3) Takes custody of and be accountable for all the properties, real of personal owned by the local government unit and those granted to it in the form of donation, reparation, assistance and counterpart of joint projects;

(4) With the approval of the Governor, as the case maybe, assigns building or land space to local officials or other public officials, who by law, are entitled to such place;

(5) Recommends to the Governor reasonable rental rates for local government properties, whether real or personal, which will be leased to public or private entities by the local government;

(6) Recommends to the Governor reasonable rental rates of private properties which maybe leased for the official use of the local government unit;

(7) Maintains and supervises janitorial security, landscaping and other related services in all local government public buildings and other real property, whether owned or leased by the local government unit;

(8) Collates and disseminates information regarding prices, shipping and other costs of supplies and other items commonly used by the local government unit;

(9) Performs archival and record management with respect to records of offices and departments of the local government unit;

(10) Performs all other functions pertaining to supply and properly management and enforces policies on records operation, maintenance and disposal;

(11) Be in the frontline of general services related activities, such as the possible or imminent destruction or damage to records, supplies, properties and structures, the orderly and sanitary cleaning up of waste materials or debris, particularly during and in the aftermath of man-made and natural disasters and calamities; and

(12) Recommend to the Sanggunian and advises the governor on all matters relative to the general services; and exercise such other powers and performs such other duties and functions as may be prescribed by law or ordinance.

        2.9 Provincial Engineering Office

            2.9.1 Function

The Provincial Engineering Office is responsible for planning, designing, programming, construction and maintenance of provincial infrastructure projects including roads, bridges, water supply, buildings and other infrastructure, which are within the jurisdiction of the province.  It extends technical assistance and advice to municipalities and other offices concerned with regard to planning and construction of public improvements.

The office is also in-charge of conducting engineering investigation and field surveys needed for planning, designing and construction of public infrastructure.  In addition, it maintains all equipment and motor vehicles in good operating conditions, and prepares reports on the accomplishment and other pertinent data as a requirement for the participation of the province in special projects.

        2.10 Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Management Office

The Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Management Office is entrusted with the responsibility of assisting the Governor in the maintenance of the environment and natural resources; formulate measures for consideration of the Sanggunian and provide technical assistance and support in carrying out said measures; ensure the delivery of basic services and provision of adequate facilities relative to environment and natural resources services.  It develop plans and strategies and upon approval thereof by the Governor, implement the same, particularly those which have to do with environment and natural resources programs and projects; be in the frontline in the delivery of services particularly in the renewal and rehabilitation of the environment during and in the aftermath of man made and natural calamities and disasters.

Likewise, it recommends to the Sanggunian and advice the Governor on all matters relative to the protection, conservation, maximum utilization and application of appropriate technology and other matters related to environment and natural resources.  It also exercises such other powers and performs other duties and functions as maybe prescribed by law or ordinance.

2.11 Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO)

The Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office and the Provincial Population Office started working as one agency for almost two (2) years already.  The fusion of the two offices was seen as an effective tool in delivering the basic social services to the less fortunate population of the province, and mostly the disadvantaged families who are living in the 5^th and 6^th class municipalities comprising 90% of these areas.

With the merger of the two offices, the following are the functions, duties and responsibilities of the office:

(1) Formulation and development of plans and strategies on social welfare and population related programs and projects and their implementation upon approval thereof by the Governor;

(2) Identify the basic needs of the needy, the disadvantaged and the impoverished and the development and implementation of appropriate resources to alleviate their problems and improve their living conditions;

(3) Frontline provisions of service delivery, particularly those concerning immediate relief and assistance before, during and in the aftermath of man-made and natural disaster; 

(4) Provision and recommendation of relief and appropriate crisis intervention for victims of abuse and exploitation;

(5) Facilitate in the implementation of welfare programs for the persons with disabilities, victims of drug addiction, released prisoner and parolees and prevention of juvenile delinquency and such other activities which would eliminate or minimize the ill-effect of poverty;

(6) Care, protect and rehabilitate socially disabled constituents and the physically handicapped for effective social functioning;

(7) Arrest further deterioration of the socially disabling or dehumanizing conditions of the disadvantaged segment at the community level;

(8) Pursue and promote policies and measures that will ensure the attainment of rational population size, structure, composition and balanced distribution of resources;

(9) Promote the value of responsible parenthood, delayed marriage, birth spacing and small family size;

(10) Ensure maximum participation of GOs/NGOs in the implementation of population related programs, projects and activities; and

(11) Advocate for policies and measures addressing social welfare and population concerns.

        2.12 Office of the Provincial Agriculturist

The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist aims to augment the family income of fisher folks and farmers as well as to convert the vast idle lands of the province into productive farm lands for a total agricultural and socio-economic development of the province.  This vision shall be realized through the delivery of basic technical agricultural services to the poorest of the poor in the rural and urban areas of the province.

The office also consolidates and expends the agricultural extension work; bring to farmers and rural dwellers the knowledge and information on improved agricultural practices/ technology pertaining to crops, poultry and livestock production.  Likewise, it encourage and promote the growth of private associations, cooperatives and other organized groups related to production and marketing or agricultural products; educate farmers through on the spot instructions and demonstration on improved, useful, healthful and profitable home management methods and techniques for homemakers; and, assists farmers in the formulation of cooperatives, organization and other farmers' associations.

        2.13 Provincial Health Office

            2.13.1 Functions

The primary function of the Provincial Health Office is to ensure the efficient, effective economical delivery of medical, hospital and other support health services which include primary, secondary and tertiary health facilities as provided under Section 17 of the Local Government Code of 1991.  It shall formulates and implements policies, rules and regulations, plans, programs, and projects, to strengthen the operation of the office and to promote the health of the people in consideration of the Sanggunian and upon approval of the Governor.

In addition, it shall also execute and enforce all laws, ordinances and regulation relating to public health information campaigns, and to render health intelligence services are likewise an inherent function of this office.  The PHO shall coordinate with other government agencies and non-governmental organizations involved in the promotion and delivery of health services.  It shall also exercise general supervision over health officers of component cities and municipalities.

        2.14 Office of the Provincial Attorney

The Provincial Attorney acts as the legal counsel of the province.  He represents the province in civil cases wherein the province or any office in his official capacity is a party.  He also conducts investigation or hearing of administrative case assigned by the Governor and acts as legal adviser of the provincial and municipal government under its jurisdiction.

        2.15 Office of the Provincial Assessor

Headed by the Provincial Assessor, this office has the following functions:  Issue tax declaration of real properties, keep record of all transactions affecting transfer of land ownership, leases, mortgages and real property rentals; inspect and reassess properties under protest or appeal and prepare schedule of values for taxation purposes; updates property tax maps and reappraisal of different municipalities; compiles deed of sale transaction and establish systematic method of property indexing and record keeping.

       2.16 Office of the Provincial Warden

The Provincial Warden keeps, operates and maintain the provincial jail where convicted provincial prisoners can serve their sentence and detention prisoners could be held provisionally pending the final disposition of their cases.  The office is also in-charge of developing plans to rehabilitate the prisoner under custody.

        2.17 Samar Provincial Library

            2.17.1 Functions

(1) Hasten information dissemination campaign regarding library collection and services;

(2) Expose the public to different reading materials;

(3) Enhance awareness among Samareños of our local, national and international culture;

(4) Serves as repositories, not only of our natural culture but also the culture of other people in and outside our country;

(5) Collect reading materials on the current government thrust and make them available for research to the public;

(6) Collect clippings of reading materials on the utilization and preservation of natural resources for the use of public readers;

(7) Collect reading materials on the lives of national heroes and other Filipino worthy of emulation, particularly those who made significant contributions to the country's development; and,

(8) The Provincial Library serves as an adult school, a perpetual and lifelong continuation class, and the greatest educational institution.  It serves as public recreation ground, organized and administered for reading consultation and study.

A.3  Public Manpower Complement

The table below shows the number of employees of the Local Government Unit of Samar per agency/office with permanent and temporary positions.  The Provincial Health Office has the most number of personnel (401) followed by the Provincial Engineering Office (243) and the least are those being staffed of less than ten employees.

 Table 11.      Public Manpower Complement