THE appointments of Jaime Bautista as transportation secretary, Jose Rizalino Acuzar as secretary of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), socio-economic planning secretary Arsenio Balicasan and six foreign affairs officials have hurdled the committee level of the Commission on Appointments.
However, their confirmation in the plenary did not push through due to lack of material time.
During the hearing, Bautista, former president and chief operating officer of Philippine Airlines, was asked by Senate deputy minority leader Risa Hontiveros about his plans in promoting and addressing active and intermodal passenger transport in the country as she noted the existing gaps among the different modes of public transport.
Hontiveros said the transportation agency should ensure ease of travelling for Filipinos within the whole country.
“So that people can walk, bike, or ride home, or go to train stations without all the hassles and anxiety,” Hontiveros said.
Bautista said the Department of Transportation is looking at working with local government units for the construction of bike lanes and walkways throughout the country.
Sen. Christopher Go said the DOTr should capitalize on the gains of the Build, Build, Build program of the past administration and complement the present administration’s Build Better More program.
“The transportation sector plays a crucial role in economic development through a dependable and coordinated network of transportation systems which enables safe and efficient movement of people and goods. It is vital that this post be headed by a highly experienced and technical individual like Sec. Bautista,” Go said.
He also reminded Bautista to always think of what is beneficial to the riding public, especially the underprivileged sectors of the society.
Bautista expressed his gratitude to Go and vowed to continue and finish the projects the previous administration started for commuters and the riding public.
Sen. Joseph Victor Ejercito asked the DOTr if it could finish the two big-ticket railways projects in Metro Manila on time. Ejercito said he is one of those who fought for the restoration of the DOTr’s budget allotted for the Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP) and the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) project in the 2023 national budget.
Bautista informed the panel that he already told the major contractors that they need to complete the projects on time and they all expressed their support.
Acuzar’s confirmation was endorsed to the plenary with ease as only Hontiveros and Sen. Nancy Binay asked updates on the government’s housing projects in Marawi City and along the railroads that the housing czar answered satisfactorily.
Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte, CA majority leader, said: “The 12-member House contingent honored our commitment not to ask questions despite the fact that everyone is raring to ask questions and (has) prepared questions.
“I would like to emphasize the swiftness (with which) we deliberated on the nomination of Secretary Acuzar. We expect the same swiftness in the implementation of the housing program of the President. ‘Yan lang po ang hangarin namin sa inyo (That’s the only thing we ask of you), Mr. Secretary,” he said before endorsing the confirmation of Acuzar, which was seconded by Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri.
Next to be endorsed for plenary approval was Balicasan, but not without questions thrown by Sen. Grace Poe regarding the Maharlika Wealth Fund.
Balicasan replied: “I’d like to say that the investments in the Maharlika will be for long-term, long-term investment like infrastructure, investment for agriculture, investment for even our hospitals or health services. I think that’s where the longer term returns are coming from.
“It’s not, I suspect that if these funds are going to be invested in areas where those are not identified as critical for our economic development at the moment then that doesn’t serve the purpose as I see it. But if these funds are used to meet, augment the very limited fiscal space that we have now, to meet our development priorities, I am all for it. That’s what I was made to understand,” he added.
Poe said the sovereign fund should be handled by people of integrity so the funds will not be misused.
“We just want to be sure about this…We’re trying to be careful here, so the fund will not be politicized… What’s important is a proper vetting process… that the board members who will manage the funds all have moral ascendancy,” she said.
Sen. Francis Escudero asked Balicasan if it is a wise move for the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to fund the Maharlika Wealth Fund since Congress excluded the Social Security System and the Government Service Insurance System as source of seed money.
Balisacan said government banks should manage and diversify their investment portfolio to make them immune from financial shocks due to overexposure.
Next to be endorsed for plenary approval were six foreign affairs officials, except for Ambassador Manuel Teehankee as he has yet to answer a number of policy questions.
The CA will tackle all their confirmation today.
Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire is expected to stay beyond December 31 as officer-in-charge of the Department of Health.
In a press conference, Vergeire said she is not covered by Memorandum Circular (MC) 3 which states that all OICs of departments shall serve until December 31.
“I am not part or I am not affected by the Memorandum Circular because I am a career executive,” said Vergeire.
“The Memorandum Circular applies only for those non-Career Executive Service Officials (CESO). And since I am a career executive, I am not affected by that,” she added.
She said her tenure given to her by President Marcos Jr. as OIC had no deadline.
She said her term will end only once a DOH Secretary is appointed.
“The Memorandum issued by the Office of the President when I became OIC last July 14 of this year did not state any deadline or timeline as to when I will be an OIC,” she said.
“It specifically stated that this grant of authority shall take effect immediately and until a Secretary of Health has been duly appointed or unless this grant of authority is sooner revoked. But there was no timeline, as for example, until December 31,” added Vergeire. — With Gerard Naval
