By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos | Philippine News Agency
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has designated Eduardo Punay as officer-in-charge (OIC) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Malacañang announced on Tuesday.
Punay’s appointment was confirmed by Undersecretary Cheloy Garafil, OIC of the Office of the Press Secretary (OPS).
“We confirm the appointment of Undersecretary Eduardo M. Punay as the Officer-In-Charge of the Department of Social Welfare and Development,” Garafil said in a statement.
The OPS also released a copy of Punay’s appointment paper signed by Marcos on Dec. 23.
Prior to his new appointment, Punay served as DSWD Undersecretary for Special Projects.
He was a broadsheet reporter before working for the Marcos administration.
Punay was designated as DSWD OIC “to ensure the continuous operations of the agency and that no activities will be derailed or hampered,” the department said in a separate statement.
The DSWD said Punay’s appointment was also timely, especially now that it needs to provide assistance to the flooding victims in Visayas and Mindanao.
Former DSWD chief Erwin Tulfo, another ex-journalist, was bypassed by the Commission on Appointments due to citizenship issues and previous libel convictions. (PNA)
