MANILA — Malacañang on Wednesday said it was saddened by Secretary Judy Taguiwalo’s rejection by the Commission on Appointments (CA) as head of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
“We are saddened by the Commission on Appointments’ rejection of Secretary Judy Taguiwalo. Secretary Taguiwalo had served the Duterte administration with passion, profession, and integrity. She made an impact in the lives of many Filipinos in her tenure as DSWD Secretary,” Presidential Spokesperson Ernie Abella said in a statement.
He added that President Rodrigo Duterte “is now looking and studying for a possible replacement.”
In the meantime, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar praised Taguiwalo for her dedication to the service.
“She is a hard-working secretary. I learned a lot from her in the year that she was part of the Cabinet, especially her dedication to her work and her dedication to our country,” he said during a chance interview at a Palace event.
He said that it was sad that Taguiwalo was rejected since members of the Cabinet were optimistic that she would make it through the CA, owing to her one year’s fruitful work at the helm of the DSWD.
Andanar, however, said Taguiwalo’s rejection would not greatly affect programs of the DSWD, especially the agency’s task for the Marawi rehabilitation program.
“Ang bureaucracy at ang DSWD ay matatag at ang DSWD ay nanalo na ng maraming award sa governance. Malakas ang suporta sa kanila,” Andanar said. (PNA)
