MALACANANG announced yesterday several new appointments in government, including Partido Demokratiko Pilipino Lakas ng Bayan secretary-general Melvin Matibag as acting Cabinet Secretary, Presidential envoy to Kuwait Abdullah Derupong Mama-o as Secretary of the Department of Migrant Workers, and Presidential Management Staff Undersecretary Anderson Ang Lo as the new Deputy Ombudsman for Mindanao.
Communications Secretary and acting presidential spokesman Martin Andanar said Matibag replaces Karlo Nograles, who has been appointed as Civil Service Commission Chairman.
He said Matibag has proven his managerial capabilities and qualifications in all positions he has held in various institutions, including the National Transmission Corporation, Manila International Airport Authority, and the Laguna Lake Development Authority, among others.
Matibag, who was serving as the chief executive officer of the National Transmission Corporation prior to his appointment, took his oath as acting Cabinet Secretary before Salvador Mediladea yesterday.
The Official Gazette, on March 7, also uploaded the list of appointments from January to February 2022 which included the reappointments of Moro National Liberation Front founding chairman Nur Misuari as the special envoy of the President to the Organization of Islamic Conference; Cheng Yong as special envoy of the President to China; Jaime Cruz, special envoy of the President to China for Trade and Investment; and Avelino Cruz as special envoy of the President to the European Union. Their appointments were issued on January 31.
Others appointed included Philippine Center on Transnational Crime Director Celso Bael on February 24; Allen Capuyan, Simplicia Hagada, Jennifer Pia Las, Jeorge Largado and Pinky Grace Pabelic as commissioners of the National Commission on Indigenous People; John Paul Cabrera as assistant secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development; and Daryll Bryan Villanueva as assistant secretary of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban development, all on February 23.
Also appointed were Insurance Commission deputy commissioner Randy Serrano; National Tax Research Center deputy executive director Gian Carlo Rodriguez; Finance undersecretary Maria Edita Tan; Agriculture undersecretary Francisco Buan Jr.; Labor undersecretaries Philip Paredes and Randy Escolango; and Finance assistant secretaries Valery Joy Brion Neil Adrian Cabiles, all on February 22.
Andanar said Mama-o will bring with him his experience and qualifications in labor and diplomatic negotiations in heading the Department of Migrant Workers.
