Maratita remains on temporary duty as Rota health center chief
Reporter
Edward Maratita remains on temporary assignment as acting resident director of the Rota Health Center until newly installed healthcare corporation chief Juan Babauta makes a decision on his position.
He said that Babauta and the members of the corporation board are expected on Rota on Monday to meet with him and the health center’s staff to provide them information about the transition.
Maratita was appointed acting resident director for 90 days by then acting Rota Mayor Arvin Ogo following the ouster of Crispin Ayuyu in July. Prior to the formal takeover of the health corporation on Oct. 1, Maratita said he was given by then-Public Health secretary Joseph Kevin Villagomez a new 30-day notice of his appointment as interim director, or until middle of this month.
Yesterday, he expressed desire to continue serving in that capacity. Although ready to accept any decision by the corporation, Maratita hopes that he will be allowed to serve until a permanent resident director is named.
Prior to becoming the center’s resident director, Maratita served at the Legislature and was a board member of the Marianas Visitors Authority for many years.
Babauta earlier said that all positions under the corporation will go through a process of announcement and application to make sure recruits are highly qualified for the job, specifically the resident director position.
Since Oct. 1, all health centers in the Commonwealth were placed under the corporation, which now functions as an independent agency. It absorbed all functions of the Department of Public Health.
Rota Health Center has 52 employees, including two doctors, seven nurses, and other staff.