Lapus confirmed as DepEd chief

The Commission on Appointments confirmed the appointment of Education Secretary Jesli Lapus yesterday but bypassed 11 other Cabinet members.

With his hearing lasting for less than five minutes, Lapus faced no opposition and was promptly recommended by the CA’s committee on education, culture and sports for its plenary session, which was also held yesterday.

Lapus was a former member of the CA and the House of Representatives. He was appointed to the DepEd last July to replace then officer-in-charge Fe Hidalgo, who took over from resigned Secretary Florencio Abad in 2005.

"I am no stranger to anybody in this panel. They know my background. They know my professional management background. So it was not difficult for them," Lapus said. "I’ve been on the job five months, so I suppose it is an expression of confidence on my total background as a professional executive and as a legislator in the last three terms."

Prior to his stint as Secretary of Education, Lapus held various top management posts in the private sector. He was managing director of Triumph International Inc., chief financial officer of the Ramcar Group and an auditor-in-charge of SGV & Co.

Lapus was part of the original core faculty of the Asian Institute of Management’s Master’s in Development Management Program and also taught at the Ateneo de Manila University and Maryknoll College.

He then served as president and chief executive officer of the Land Bank of the Philippines, which became one of the top five universal banks in the country during his stint.

Sen. Richard Gordon endorsed the confirmation of Lapus, saying he is a man who can bring opportunities to the country so that the labor force would no longer seek greener pastures overseas.

Meanwhile, the 11 Cabinet members bypassed by the CA would have to be reappointed by the President. They are Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno, Environment Secretary Angelo Reyes, Finance Secretary Margarito Teves, Economic Planning Secretary Romulo Neri, Social Welfare Secretary Esperanza Cabral, Trade Secretary Peter Favila, Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr., Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla and Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr.

However, the CA’s committee on national defense confirmed promotions of 51 officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, including three major generals, two commodores and three brigadier generals.

Also confirmed by the CA yesterday was Philippine Ambassador to Papua New Guinea Shirley Ho-Vicario, who has concurrent jurisdiction over Kiribati and the Solomon Islands.