This refers to Ramon Tulfo’s column titled “Good riddance” (Metro, 4/6/27), specifically his opposition to Tesda Director General Guiling “Gene” Mamondiong’s possible appointment as head of the Department of Interior and Local Government, due to his stay at the Tesda dormitory.
We would like to clarify that the residence of Mamondiong is in Taytay, Rizal, and his daily travel to and from Tesda would require at least three hours on the average or more when the traffic is heavy. As a professed “workaholic,” his stay, two to four times a week, in the Tesda dormitory has proven to be more advantageous to the government and Tesda’s clientele in general, as this affords him more time to act on required documents and perform his various duties as head of Tesda. He used to report to the office early and leave, more often than not, between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m.
Even Commission on Audit rules and regulations provide for the granting of quarters privileges within office premises to officials and employees by virtue of their positions. This is an acknowledgment of the necessity and practicality of allowing employees and officials access to living quarters within office premises to ensure responsive and efficient delivery of services to their clients.
As to concerns about the cleanliness within the Tesda complex allegedly affected by the “spitting” of Tesda visitors, may we assure you that our compound and offices are clean and have a good working environment for both Tesda employees and customers. We have not seen any Tesda visitor spitting anywhere in Tesda.
Mamondiong is the first Tesda head whose visitors start coming as early as 6 a.m. up to 10 p.m., and we do not see resentment on his face.
If Tulfo wants to, we would gladly show him around the Tesda premises.
PILAR G. DE LEON, chief of services for administration,Technical Education and Skills Development Authority