PALO, Leyte – The central office of the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) is set to approve the plan allowing the Department of Agriculture (DA) to temporarily occupy its regional office here after the DA office was razed by fire a few weeks ago.

PCA-8 Regional Manager Edilberto Nierva told Leyte Samar Daily Express that top officials of their central office would meet this week to come up with a final decision on the proposal.

It was learned that the PCA regional office here is the first in the list of DA where they can possibly hold office while still in the state of recovery after the fire.

Nierva, who offered an office space to their mother agency, said that the proposal was endorsed by him last December 21, a day after the fire.

“We will be informed of the final decision of our central office within this week,” Nierva told LSDE.

If the plan would be approved, the more than 160 DA employees will be hold office for at least six to 12 months at the PCA regional office, according to Nierva.

“The proposal was approved at the regional level but we have to seek clearance from the PCA administrator,” Nierva said adding that the 30 personnel of PCA-8 had welcomed the plan.

There are at least six rooms and a training center that are at present vacant at the PCA regional office building, which was erected 25 years ago.

Aside form the PCA office, there are other options of DA like the Devine Word University building in Tacloban City.

At present, DA-8 personnel from different divisions and units are occupying office spaces in different areas of Tacloban City.

The office of the regional executive director and planning staff hold office at the Plant Quarantine office at Jones St. Personnel of the information, marketing, and engineering divisions occupy the Solis Laboratory building at Magsaysay Boulevard.

Staffs of the administration, finance, and operation divisions are temporarily using a building in Paterno St., which is owned by Dir. Wilson Cerbito, DA-8 OIC regional technical director.

In an earlier interview with LSDE, Leo Ca ñeda, DA-8 regional executive director, has assured the public that before the end of the first quarter of 2005, they would instill a sense of normalcy in their operations.

“We will not allow the tragedy to disrupt our operation,” Ca ñeda said.

He added that they are optimistic that before the end of 2005, they could identify a permanent site for their office. DA is planning to rehabilitate the building razed by fire.

DA attached agencies have pledged to donate basic office supplies and equipment for use of DA-8 employees. These pledges of support were commended by Ca ñeda.