DPWH exec to warm top post for Villar

MANILA, Philippines - More than a year after he resigned, Rafael Yabut returned last Friday as senior undersecretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and would act as secretary until Mark Villar assumes office late this month.

Yabut took over as acting secretary from Rogelio Singson in simple ceremonies in the afternoon of July 1.

Yabut is expected to serve as acting secretary only until July 26 or July 27.

During yesterday’s flag raising ceremony, Yabut challenged the DPWH to join and follow President Duterte’s call for change and the message in his inaugural speech, particularly the lines, “I have no friends to serve and I have no enemies to harm, we only have a common good and the people’s wellbeing to collectively pursue.”

Yabut also lauded the contribution of Singson and all the men and women of the DPWH for their accomplishments in the past six years.

Yabut held the Rank 1 Career Service Officer before his early retirement in June 2015.

During that time he was the undersecretary for project management office operations for foreign-assisted projects.

He was the focal person in the implementation of DPWH public-private partnership projects, tollways/expressways and other related facilities nationwide.

He was also the alternate representative of the secretary to the Toll Regulatory Board.

At the Department of Health, Secretary Paulyn Jean Ubial ordered yesterday officials and employees to be simple and frugal in spending government resources.

“Avanza and Innova in terms of vehicles,” she said.

Everyone should take economy class in all of their travels and use the simplest forms of transportation in adherence to the order of President Duterte, she added.

Speaking after she officially took over from secretary Janette Garin, Ubial said her two marching orders from Duterte are on drugs and corruption. – Evelyn Macairan, Sheila Crisostomo, Rhodina Villanueva, Romina Cabrera