By Brian Campued
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has retained his economic team amid the ongoing Cabinet revamp, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin announced Friday.
In a press briefing at Malacañang, Bersamin disclosed that Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Cristina Roque, Department of Finance (DOF) Secretary Ralph Recto, Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan Jr., Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, and Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs (SAPIEA) Frederick Go were all retained due to the importance of the economic team in the country.
“Itong lima na ito ay magpapatuloy sa kanilang panunungkulan, paninilbihan sa ating taumbayan at makakaasa kayo na sila naman ay sinsero o dedicated sa kanilang sinumpaang katungkulan,” Bersamin said.
Aside from the economic team, Bersamin shared that the President also declined his courtesy resignation.
“As far as I am concerned, the President declined the courtesy resignation that I tendered. And just this morning, he communicated to me that I had his full backing for as long as I wish to work for him.” he said, praising Marcos’ “full trust and confidence” in him.
Meanwhile, the Chief Executive has accepted the courtesy resignation of Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga and will be replaced by Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Raphael Lotilla, “Si Secretary Loyzaga naman ay magpapahinga muna at maaaring mabibigyan din siya ng isang or ibang responsableng government or Cabinet position in a future time.”
Former lawmaker and current Undersecretary Sharon Garin will be in-charge of DOE, Bersamin added.
Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar will likewise be replaced by Engr. Jose Ramon Aliling, who previously managed the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino Housing (4PH) program and the Pasig River “Bigyang Buhay Muli” project as undersecretary of DHSUD.
Bersamin clarified that Acuzar, who will now serve as Presidential Adviser for Pasig River Development, was replaced due to “under delivery” and setting a standard “too high for himself.”
“There may have been obstacles in his way which were beyond his control, and beyond the control of the government. But to us now because of the results of the election, it’s time for the President to take him out there and bring another one who might make a better performance.”
Other Cabinet movements announced were the designation of Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Enrique Manalo as the Permanent Representative to the United Nations following the retirement of Antonio Lagdameo on July 31.
Manalo’s post will be filled by DFA Undersecretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro, also effective in July.
The rest of the 52 Cabinet secretaries and agency heads who tendered their respective courtesy resignations are still under careful evaluation by the President, “Lahat ng Cabinet members, Presidential advisers, and other Presidential appointees are always subject to the whim of the President of the Republic of the Philippines. Wala kaming ilusyon na panghawakan ang mga kaniya-kaniyang puwesto, at oras na gusto ng Pangulo na palitan kami o umalis kami sa puwesto, gagawin namin iyon.”
“Lahat kami ay naghain ng aming courtesy resignation as called for by the President—walang nag-hesitate kasi alam namin na ang Pangulo lamang ng Pilipinas ang makakapagsabi kung hanggang kailan kami maninilbihan sa taumbayan.”
-jpv
