Fort Santiago, National Museum listed as alternate venues
SEN. Imee Marcos, sister of incoming President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., yesterday said their family is considering the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park as venue for her brother’s inauguration on June 30.
In an interview with dzBB, Sen. Marcos said their father, the late president Ferdinand Marcos, held many of his major public appearances at the Quirino Grandstand.
Three Philippine presidents held their inauguration rites at the Quirino Grandstand — Marcos Sr. in 1965, Fidel V. Ramos in 1992, and the late Benigno S. Aquino III in 2010.
“Pinagpipilian pa lang, kaya lang hindi masyadong cooperative ang weather. So, ang gusto kasi namin, ang number one criteria sana eh outdoor para hindi ma-COVID-19 (We are still choosing [the venue]. However, the weather has not been so cooperative. Our number one criteria is to hold it [inauguration] outdoors so no one will be at risk of getting infected with COVID-19),” Sen. Marcos said.
If the Quirino Grandstand is not available, Sen. Marcos said their family is also considering Fort Santiago and the National Museum for the inauguration.
She said younger sister Irene Marcos-Araneta is in-charge of the preparations for their brother’s inauguration, adding that talks are underway with Manila Mayor Isko Moreno for the venue.
She noted that the Quirino Grandstand may not be available for the inauguration rites because there are “pop up” quarantine facilities in the vicinity. It is also being used as a drive-thru vaccination and swab testing facility by the city government of Manila.
The Manila City government yesterday announced it is shutting down the drive-thru facility by June 7. It did not give any explanation for the move.
Fort Santiago is a Spanish fortress built in 1571 in Intramuros, Manila where Dr. Jose Rizal was imprisoned before he was executed in 1896, while the National Museum is where the Old Congress was formerly located.
The venues being eyed for the inauguration of Marcos Jr. are all located in the city of Manila.
“We will find a place as soon as possible given the weather and the COVID-19 situation,” Sen. Marcos said.
In his 212th video blog titled “Tagumpay Nating Lahat” that was released Saturday night, Marcos Jr. again urged the people to include him in their prayers so that he may be able to fulfill his promises and lead the country well and towards progress.
He also said he expects to complete his Cabinet lineup in the coming weeks.
“Sa pagpili ng Gabinete, Walang halong kulay o pulitika… Unti-unti na ninyo sigurong narinig ang mga pangalan na iyan at sa mga linggo po na darating ay makukumpleto na rin natin ang mga listahan (In choosing the Cabinet, there is no politics… You have probably already heard some of the names and in the coming weeks, we will complete the list),” he said.
Marcos reiterated that he is choosing his appointees based on their expertise in their field or industries, their ability and willingness to help the country move forward, and if they share his beliefs and principles.
He said again that he does not mind if the person belongs to a different political party or had been his rival in the past as long as they are willing to work with him and serve the country and the Filipinos.
So far, the incoming Marcos Cabinet includes incoming Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio as education secretary, Victor Rodriguez as executive secretary, Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. as interior and local government secretary, Rep. Crispin Remulla as justice secretary, and Rose Beatrix “Trixie” Cruz-Angeles as Press Secretary.
He has also named Bienvenido Laguesma as labor secretary, Susan Ople as head of the newly-formed Department of Migrant Workers, Benjamin Diokno as finance secretary, Alfredo Pascual as trade secretary, Emmanuel Bonoan as public works secretary, Felipe Medalla as Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas governor, and Anton Lagdameo as special assistant to the president.
Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship and Go Negosyo Joey Concepcion suggested the names of Dr. Edsel Salvaña and Dr. Ted Herbosa as possible appointees to the Department of Health.
He stressed that the next DOH secretary would play a crucial role in ensuring that the incoming government will sustain the government’s efforts against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Salvaña is a member of the DOH Technical Advisory Group and director of the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology at the National Institutes of Health at the University of the Philippines-Manila.
Herbosa is a medical adviser of the National Task Force Against COVID-19.
“I believe that either of them will help the government keep COVID-19 under control and maintain our health in good standing which will keep our economy running at full capacity,” he said.
At the same time, Concepcion suggested that molecular biologist and OCTA Research fellow Fr. Nicanor Austriaco, be given the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) portfolio.
“I have worked with all three and I have to say they are all qualified for the DOH and DOST positions,” Concepcion said.
As a molecular biologist with a vast experience in the field of science and technology, Fr. Austriaco can complement the DOH’s COVID-19 campaign with the needed know-how that would help put an end to the pandemic, Concepcion said. — With Jocelyn Montemayor
