‘Evaluation process for Cabinet members needed’

Rep. Joseph Lee Pan T. Guerrero (R-Saipan) is suggesting that the administration should have its own evaluation process for government appointees like Cabinet secretaries and directors.

Guerrero made the suggestion after Walter Manglona was given a memorandum of a proposed termination by Department of Community and Cultural Affairs Secretary Laura Ogumoro last Friday.

The “proposed termination” happened with Gov. Ralph DLG Torres was off-island. He is currently in Washington, D.C. to attend the meetings of the National Governors Association’s meeting and the 35th U.S. Coral Reef Task Force.

The Governor’s Office released this statement: “Presently Gov. [Ralph] Torres is off-island, but he has been made aware of the issue surrounding the DCCA Office on Aging. He has instructed the office to delve into the matter accordingly and prepare the findings for his review when gets back from Washington, D.C.”

Guerrero said that he is hoping that the political aspect of appointments should be removed and providing better services for the community be made the No. 1 priority. He added that appointees should be asked “what have you done?” and “have you improved the services?” as some of the questions for their evaluation.

“The administration should have an evaluation process for Cabinet secretaries. We need to understand that we must discontinue this practice of changing people with every change of administration. All Cabinet members should sit down and be evaluated,” said Guerrero.

He added that he hopes that Manglona’s apparent firing has also nothing to do with politics but rather part of DCCA’s plan to improve its services to the community. However, he has not heard any bad word on how Manglona works at the Aging Office with the staff and man’amko all siding with him.

“From what I’ve heard, Walter is more accommodating with the man’amko. He knows what services they need. I also met with Walter and the guy knows what he’s doing and he has great work ethic. That’s why I don’t know why the administration went with that direction,” Guerrero said.

“With due respect, I don’t know where they [administration] are going. I want to hear from both sides on what’s the issue with Walter. I hope the administration would reconsider their decision,” Guerrero added.

Guerrero said that he is hoping that Manglona’s replacement would continue his programs and not make any changes. “Do not make it more stressful for our man’amko. Most of the man’amko are under medication and they don’t need stress. We need to make their lives easier, not stressful.”

He said that he was disappointed when he heard the news of Manglona’s firing as he learned the news while he’s in the Philippines when he accompanied his wife for a medical check up.