Cabinet revamp: Lontoc to DOTC

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang bared yesterday new appointments in the Cabinet, naming Transportation Undersecretary Anneli Lontoc as the new transportation secretary in place of Leandro Mendoza, who was appointed executive secretary.

Cebu Ports Authority chief Angelo Verdan was named Maritime Industry Authority administrator vice Ma. Elena Bautista, who now heads the Presidential Management Staff.

Mendoza said the priority of the Cabinet is to finish the projects of the administration.

“It’s consolidation and integration of the gains of this administration towards a strong Republic of the Philippines and, of course, as what has been said, it’s actually providing a very orderly transition from this administration to the next,” he said.

Press Secretary Crispulo Icban said continuity of government operations and services to the people has been sustained, if not enhanced, since most of the new appointees are career officials with impeccable track records as public servants.

“We are also highly confident that implementation of government projects, notably those enunciated by the President in her State of the Nation addresses, would push through without unnecessary delays despite changes in the Cabinet,” he said.

Mendoza is set to officially turn over the post of secretary of transportation and communications to Lontoc today.

Thompson Lantion, transportation undersecretary for maritime transport and DOTC spokesman, said former Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board chairman Dante Lantin, erstwhile assistant secretary for land transport, may be named undersecretary for land transport.

Acting Secretary Alberto Agra formally assumed his post at the Department of Justice yesterday.

“There are about 8,000 to 9,000 pending motions for reconsideration and petitions for review in the department (accumulated from 1997),” he said.

“I will try to get zero backlog in four months.”

Agra said he would also try to expedite resolution of big cases like the Maguindanao massacre, Legacy investment scam and the case against now fugitive Sen. Panfilo Lacson.

However, with just four months in the DOJ, he has no plans of “making big movements,” especially in terms of the organizational structure, he added.

Agra said he also has no plans to review resolutions issued by his predecessor, Agnes Devanadera.

He would likewise pursue the stand of Devanadera on the issue of appointment of the successor of Chief Justice Reynato Puno, who will retire on May 17, he added.

Agra will serve as acting DOJ chief and concurrently solicitor general.

He has given up his other post as government corporate counsel, he added.

Raul Ragandang is the new government corporate counsel. - Paolo Romero, Rainier Allan Ronda, Edu Punay