CA confirms Carague as COA chief

The Commission on Appointments (CA) unanimously confirmed yesterday the appointment of Guillermo Carague as chairman of the Commission on Audit (COA), making him the first head of a constitutional office to hurdle the bicameral body.

Southern Leyte Rep. Aniceto Saludo, vice chairman of the CA committee on constitutional commissions and offices, said that Carague "is a man of exemplary competence and character who could steer the CA to a more efficient fulfillment of its constitutional mandate."

He described Carague as "an organizational and systems man with impressive intellect and moral standards."

Saludo cited Carague for instituting reforms in the COA, notably the New Government Auditing System that would make auditing simplified, computerized and in step with the times, particularly with international standards.

Cebu City Rep. Raul del Mar and Saludo both observed that those who had registered their opposition to Carague’s confirmation were not actually against his confirmation but against some of the reform programs he had instituted in the COA.

"This indicated their sincerity that they were merely concerned with some points in the new programs that Carague had instituted. This being the case, he should consider their recommendations so that his reform program could still be improved," Del Mar said.

Senators Robert Barbers and Blas Ople both seconded the confirmation of Carague.

"His confirmation will result in more efficiency, more transparency and more savings for the government. Chairman Carague is the right man for the right job," Barbers said.

Ople said he has no doubt that Carague would help usher in programs that would result in a better Philippines.

Carague was the budget secretary during the administration of Corazon Aquino and Fidel Ramos. He was chairman of the Mt. Pinatubo Commission and a member of the Monetary Board. Before his stint with the government, he was connected with the auditing firm Sycip Gorres and Velayo, and the World Bank.

Meanwhile, a group from Pampanga demonstrated before the Senate yesterday to oppose the confirmation of Transportation and Communications Secretary Pantaleon Alvarez.

The protesters claimed that the confirmation of Alvarez would result in the non-development of the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) at the former US air base at Clark Field in Pampanga.

The group obviously thought Alvarez’s appointment was up for hearings before the CA. The actual confirmation hearing is scheduled on Feb. 12.

In a move that took the demonstrators by surprise, Alvarez clambered up the makeshift stage set up by about 500 demonstrators, composed mainly of employees of Philippine Airlines and MIASCOR, and invited their leaders to a dialogue to thresh out their problems, including their opposition to his nomination and the PIATCO-DOTC concession agreement.

The two sides met in a Pasay City restaurant for an initial discussion during which they agreed to hold a public symposium to address the issues.

Alvarez said that the development of the DMIA would continue even if the ongoing Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal III project is consummated.

He also said that he should not be faulted for the continuation of the NAIA III project as this was finalized long before his time and that the courts had already upheld the legality of the contract.

Alvarez also said he welcomed all sorts of dialogues with his critics "in order to clear the air once and for all so we can move on."