By Brian Campued
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin announced on Tuesday that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. rejected the courtesy resignations of most of his Cabinet officials amid the ongoing “reset” of his administration.
In the third wave of Cabinet reshuffle announcements, Bersamin bared that the President decided to retain the following secretaries:
- Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.
- Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary Conrado Estrella III
- Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sonny Angara
- Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Director General Kiko Benitez
- Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma
- Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian
- Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Teodoro Herbosa
- Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac
- Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Renato Solidum Jr.
- Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Frasco
- Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Henry Rhoel Aguda
- Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Vince Dizon
- Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan
- Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile
- Presidential Management Staff (PMS) Secretary Elaine Masukat
- Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairperson Romando Artes
- Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Chairperson Leo Tereso Magno
- Presidential Adviser for Mindanao Concerns Secretary Antonio Cerilles
- Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr.
- Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Bienvenido Rubio
- National Treasurer Sharon Almanza
Bersamin said Marcos expects his Cabinet members who have been retained in their posts to “give fresh attention to the mandates and to give more performance” to address the immediate needs of the Filipino people.
Bersamin pointed out that, “The President is a manager, he has his own levels of achievement that he has imposed on each of us in the Cabinet and his expectations are there, and it is only the President who can decide if we performed up to par or we delivered on those promises or the expectation that he gave to us.”
“And, because of these, the President might have probably, most likely determined that most of these whom he retained have performed at par, because otherwise he would surely have fired them.”
Resignations accepted, new SEC chief appointed
Meanwhile, the courtesy resignations of the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP) Chairperson and chief executive officer Meynardo Sabili, Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Terence Calatrava, and Presidential Assistant on Muslim Affairs Almarim Tillah were accepted by President Marcos.
The Chief Executive terminated Presidential Adviser for Special Concerns Meynardo Espineli, according to Bersamin.
The Executive Secretary also announced the appointment of Atty. Francis Edralin Lim as the new chairperson of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), replacing Emilio Aquino whose term ends on June 5.
Having contributed significantly to investor protection and market transparency throughout his professional and academic works, Bersamin noted that Lim will bring his “decades of experience in corporate law, governance, and capital market’s regulation” to the SEC.
“His leadership is expected to strengthen investor confidence and further promote transparency, innovation and inclusive growth in the Philippine financial sector.”
Bersamin clarified that Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Enrique Manalo will remain in his post until his confirmation as the Philippines’ Permanent Representative to the United Nations at the Commission on Appointments.
-jpv
