[NEWS] Ombudsman Mindanao opens de Oro office

(Note: For those who dread traveling long distance just to file a complaint against erring public officials and employees in their areas in the northern part of Mindanao, here is a good news. BUT I consider it good news indeed in our collective quest for integrity in public service and good governance. )

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/29 June) -- The Office of the Ombudsman inMindanao (OMB Min) announced the opening of its Cagayan de Oro extension office to offer "frontline services" to the public in theNorthern part of the island.

Teresita Angeles, chief of the Graft Prevention Unit of OMB Min, toldMindaNews that they had a "soft opening" of the new Cagayan de Oro extension office last June 20.

The extension office, with five employees for a start, is located atDoña Emeteria Building, Osmeña St., Ext. . Lawyer Ma. Iluminada Viva,OIC regional director from Davao City, will head the office.

Angeles said this will help provide greater access to the public especially those in, but not limited to, Northern Mindanao. But there are still some transactions that need to be done in Davao City,Angeles said.

The office will serve as a "dulugang bayan" or drop-off point for transactions. It can also provide public assistance, do graft prevention and advocacy campaigns, and receive communication. The graft investigations would still be done in Davao City, Angeles said.

The OMB Min plans to make the regional extension office fully functional with at least 50 employees but provided no date when thatwould happen.

The Cagayan de Oro office will cut travel time for those transactingwith the Ombudsman from cities like Zamboanga, Iligan, and Pagadian.Since 1988, the Office of the Ombudsman served the whole Mindanao areawith only one office in Davao City.(Walter I. Balane / MindaNews)