Rio has new role in DICT, but still quitting

MANILA, Philippines — Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Undersecretary Eliseo Rio Jr. vowed over the weekend to continue giving taxpayers their money’s worth in what could be his remaining days in office.

In a social media post yesterday, Rio said he has been designated by Secretary Gregorio Honasan II as undersecretary for operations in-charge of the National Broadband Backbone and Free Wifi in Public Places.

Rio, who had sent his resignation letter to Malacañang last Jan. 31, said the appointment was issued last Friday.

He has since been awaiting President Duterte’s response. “At the moment, I am still waiting for the President’s instructions regarding my offer to resign. Truly, I serve at the President’s pleasure,” he said. 

“Pending the President’s action on my resignation letter, I intend to fully make use of this great opportunity for me to continue to champion what we have started in the department, such as the third telco, and common towers and passive telco infrastructure initiatives and the national broadband program,” Rio said.

He said he does not want the department’s ongoing momentum to lose steam.

As part of the administration’s “Build, Build, Build” program, he cited the “phenomenal rise in committed investments in the ICT sector” which he said was at P518.8 billion for the first 10 months of 2019.

“(This) is almost equal to the investments of all sectors combined for 2019,” he said, adding that it can be largely attributed to the DICT’s policies and initiatives.

“As a public servant for more than 42 years, I have always believed that to serve one’s country is one’s civic duty and an absolute privilege. In my case, it is a lifetime advocacy. To shirk this responsibility, knowing I could still effect meaningful changes if given the chance, would be a great disservice to the nation,” Rio said.
Reflecting on his resignation, he cited “feeling no longer needed in the department,” having been sidelined and kept out of the loop for several months on the decision-making processes regarding vital national programs and projects under his area of responsibility.

“I could not in conscience continue to receive salary from taxpayers’ pockets while not doing what I am capable of accomplishing. Simply put, I do not want to shortchange the Filipino people,” he said of his principal reason for resigning.

Last Friday, he and Honasan came out with a joint statement indicating they have settled whatever differences they had.

On the issue of the P300-million confidential expense or CE, Rio clarified that he never said there is an anomaly involving the fund disbursement as he had no first-hand knowledge on how they were even used or spent.

“There is always the presumption of regularity in all government actions. In any case, I trust that Secretary Honasan will take full responsibility for all of his actions regarding these confidential funds,” he said.