Cabinet ordered to finish projects

MANILA, Philippines - Deputy presidential spokesman Ricardo Saludo said yesterday President Arroyo would want the commitments she made in her State of the Nation Addresses fulfilled before she leaves office.

Saludo said ensuring that major programs and projects of the administration would be completed before the President steps down on June 30 would be the priority of the new set of Cabinet officials.

“We also want to ensure orderly, honest and clean elections as well as a peaceful transition and an orderly turnover of government on June 30,” Saludo told a news briefing.

“As we move towards the new administration, it is also part of the responsibilities of the current government to work for the proper transition,” he said.

Addressing members of the business community last Wednesday, the President said the country’s economic growth would accelerate this year as she completes the major projects started during her nine-year term.

Mrs. Arroyo earlier this week appointed Transportation and Communications Secretary Leandro Mendoza as the new Executive Secretary to replace Eduardo Ermita, who is running for a seat in Congress representing the first district of Batangas.

Former Maritime Industry Authority administrator Elena Bautista replaced Presidential Management Staff (PMS) director general Hermogenes Esperon Jr.

Others appointed were Office of the Government Corporate Counsel head Alberto Agra as justice secretary to replace Agnes Devanadera, who is running for representative of Quezon province.

Agriculture Undersecretary Bernardo Fondevilla was also appointed to replace Secretary Arthur Yap; Technical Education and Skills Development Authority deputy director general for field operations Rogelio Peyuan vice TESDA director general Secretary Augusto Syjuco; and Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Joaquin Lagonera to replace Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya Jr.

Peaceful turnover

Meanwhile, Nacionalista Party standard-bearer Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. and his party mates urged newly appointed Executive Secretary Mendoza and other new Cabinet officials to ensure peaceful turnover of administration to the next government.

With barely three months before the new administration takes over, Villar said he respects the prerogative of President Arroyo to choose who the members of her official family would be.

NP spokesmen and senatorial candidates Gilbert Remulla and Adel Tamano also said the NP would make sure that the new members of Mrs. Arroyo’s team would not be involved in midnight deals and appointments.

“As to the transition government of GMA - Don’t get too comfortable in your seats. Their role is to smoothly hand over the reins of government to the next administration. We will be watching their moves to ensure that no midnight deals and appointments will happen,” Remulla said.

Remulla and Tamano were interviewed at the Bulawan Festival in Compostela Valley where the senatorial candidates joined the celebration along with Villar and his running mate Sen. Loren Legarda. Also present were senatorial candidates Gwen Pimentel, Bongbong Marcos, Satur Ocampo, Liza Maza, Monmon Mitra, and Martin Loon, representing his father detained Col. Ariel Querubin. – Paolo Romero, Christina Mendez