Negros Occidental gov goes back to work at hospital
Bacolod City -- Negros Occidental Governor Joseph Marañon is back at work, at the hospital at least, signing appointments of the province's contractual employees.
Lawyer Jose Maria Valencia, the governor's chief of staff, said Marañon was transferred to a private room from the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Dr. Pablo Torre Memorial Hospital (Riverside Medical Center) in Bacolod Sunday night.
"He is now signing papers consisting of new appointments for contractual employees whose appointments ended last December," Valencia said.
The provincial government has 224 contractual employees including those assigned at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, provincial and district hospitals, Mambukal Resort and 20 school teachers.
Under the law, Vice Governor Elpidio Isidro Zayco, who is serving in an acting capacity due to the governor's leave of absence, is not authorized to sign the appointments for employees, Valencia said.
The governor is expected to be released from the hospital this weekend, he noted. (PNA)