MANILA — President Rodrigo R. Duterte has appointed the fourth and last commissioner of the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP), now completing the slots vacated by the commissioners he sacked last December due to excessive foreign travels.
In an appointment paper dated March 19 and was released to the media Wednesday, Duterte designated Melvin Mitra as a new PCUP commissioner.
Mitra joins other PCUP officials earlier appointed by Duterte to replace those he fired including new PCUP chair Noel Felongco and commissioners Randy Halasan, Norman Brillantes Baloro, and Romeo Halasan Jandugan.
Duterte earlier fired PCUP chair and former Kabataan party-list Rep. Terry Ridon and commissioners Melissa Aradanas, Joan Lagunda, Noe Indonto, and Manuel Serra Jr. for their alleged junkets.
The President earlier said Ridon traveled more than 10 times during his more than one-year stint as PCUP chief.
Malacañang earlier issued a memorandum restricting trips among officials in the executive department.
Duterte has repeatedly said that he would immediately fire any official involved in any form of corruption.
PCUP acts as the direct link between the government and the urban poor to address the needs of the society’s indigent sector.
PCUP’s functions include evaluation of the government’s shelter-related or resettlement projects for squatters or informal settlers, preparation of programs for the human development, basic services, and employment and livelihood. (PNA)
