PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. yesterday told those in government, especially those in the Office of the President, to continue doing their jobs properly as what they do affects millions of Filipinos.
Marcos also said he wanted to “start out on the right foot,” attending his first flag-raising ceremony with the rank and file detailed in Malacañang including those from the Office of the President, Office of the Executive Secretary, Office of the Cabinet Secretary, and the Office of the Special Assistant to the President.
Marcos said he considers those in government not as mere employees but as “our partners.” He said each and every one in government is essential as each job or decision the government makes affects the other Filipinos.
“When you sit at your desk and you do something and you make a decision, or you push something, or you expedite something that affects not only you, not only me, that affects millions of people. Kaya’t napakaimportante na itama natin ‘yang ating gagawing trabaho (That is why we must do our jobs properly),” he said.
He said officials like him would not be able to do their jobs without the other public servants.
“I know how hard that you work, and the service you give. You do not choose, but merely follow whoever is chosen to lead this Palace. I hope this is the start of our beautiful working relationship,” he said in mixed Filipino and English, adding he is very happy to see them “ready to go” and “very enthusiastic for this next administration.”
On July 1, Executive Secretary Victor Rodriguez issued Memorandum Circular No. 1 which declared positions in the Executive Department, such as all those occupied by presidential appointees who are coterminous, all presidential appointees occupying positions created over the authorized staffing pattern, all non-career Executive Service Officials (CESO) occupying Career Executive Service (CES) positions, and contractual and casual employees as vacant.
Some may continue work until July 31, or until a replacement is appointed or designated, or unless they are terminated or renewed by the heads of the agencies.
After the event in Malacañang, Marcos proceeded to the Department of Agriculture in Quezon City for a closed-door meeting. The Palace has not disclosed what were discussed in the meeting. Marcos last month announced he is concurrent Agriculture secretary, to show the priority his government is giving to the sector, and to ensure immediate government action amid an anticipated food crisis in the next several quarters. Among his priorities are to ensure food security in the country and to lower the prices of rice to at least P20 per kilo.
BBM CABINET
In other departments, Marcos’ Cabinet members attended their respective first flag ceremonies and inspected the offices and under them, such as Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles and Social Welfare and Development Secretary Erwin Tulfo.
Angeles, who also held her first press briefing as press secretary, said the Marcos government is in the final evaluation stage for other appointees to the Cabinet.
She said Marcos recognizes the urgency of filling up the other positions in government including the Department of Health (DOH), especially given the COVID-19 pandemic, and Department of Energy.
Marcos has also yet to name the heads of the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Science and Technology, and the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD).
A former president of the Philippine Medical Association (PMA), Dr Benito Atienza, said the medical community is awaiting the DOH appointee “as we have numerous problems in health sector right now” like the COVID-19 pandemic, high number of rainy season diseases, and continued exit of healthcare workers to work abroad.
Atienza also said the next DOH head should help push for the veto of the vape bill.
Former Solicitor General Jose Calida has nothing but nice words for government auditors and support personnel as he formally assumed his post as chairperson of the Commission on Audit yesterday.
Despite being on the receiving end of adverse audit findings during his stint at OSG, the new COA chief said he respects the work of state auditors and is looking forward to working with them for the next seven years.
But he hesitated when asked about maintaining the policy of his predecessors of full transparency by publishing annual audit reports, special audits, fraud audits, and performance audits of all government agencies and programs on the agency’s official website.
“This is (only) my first day. Give me some more days (and) I will tell you what we want to do,” he told reporters.
He was also cautious about COA’s participation in a cooperative effort with the Office of the Ombudsman and the Department of Justice under the Duterte government’s Task Force against Corruption.
Calida said he will look at the letter of the inter-agency Memorandum of Agreement signed in September 2021.
He said he has received no special instructions from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. other than being notified of his appointment as chairperson of COA.
Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos, on the next PNP chief, said “this is being thoroughly studied and probably within the next several weeks, you will know.”
PNP deputy chief for operations Lt. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr, the PNP’s No. 3 man, has been serving as the officer-in-charge of the 225,000-strong police force since May 6 with the retirement of then PNP chief Gen. Dionardo Carlos.
Danao is among the candidates to become the PNP chief, along with Lt. Gen. Rhodel Sermonia, the PNP No. 2 man being the PNP deputy chief for administration.
Area Police Command-Northern Luzon chief Lt. Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr, PNP deputy chief for operations Maj. Gen. Valeriano De Leon, and National Capital Police Office chief Maj. Gen Felipe Natividad are also among the other contenders.
CHINESE EXEC
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is set to arrive in Manila today and will call on Marcos Jr. to discuss bilateral issues.
Wang, who will stay in the country until July 6, will also personally invite Marcos, on behalf of Chinese President Xi Jinping, to visit Beijing.
Wang is the second most senior Chinese official to visit the Philippines after Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan, who attended Marcos’ inauguration on June 30.
No other details were provided by the Department of Foreign Affairs or the Chinese Embassy in Manila but DFA sources said Wang will also hold talks with his Filipino counterpart, Enrique Manalo, as well as Marcos’ national security adviser, Clarita Carlos.
Wang is visiting the Southeast Asian region until July 14.
Aside from Manila, Wang will also visit Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.
Wang’s visit is also taking place a week before the sixth anniversary of the 2016 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration which junked China’s massive claim in the South China Sea, including the parts claimed by the Philippines as West Philippine Sea.
Beijing does not recognize the ruling and insisted on bilateral talks to address the maritime territorial dispute.
Marcos has changed his stance on the issue and weeks after being elected president said he would uphold the ruling.
His predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, called the ruling a worthless piece of paper as he sought to refocus the foreign policy of his administration and closer ties with Beijing.
However, in the latter part of his term, Duterte asserted Manila’s arbitral victory in a speech before the United Nations General Assembly. — With Gerard Naval, Peter J. G. Tabingo, Victor Reyes and Ashzel Hachero
