Marcos names new TESDA chief; bowler Coo to PSC

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos has named a former labor undersecretary as chief of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and a bowling legend as commissioner of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).

Marcos has appointed Danilo Cruz as TESDA director-general and Olivia “Bong” Coo as PSC commissioner, the Office of the Press Secretary (OPS) announced yesterday.

“The Office of the Executive Secretary through Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles confirms the appointment of Danilo Cruz as TESDA director-general and Olivia Garcia ‘Bong’ Coo as commissioner of the Philippine Sports Commission,” the OPS said in a statement.

Cruz was a labor undersecretary during the administrations of former presidents Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Benigno Aquino III.

He is the 13th director-general of the agency.

In its Twitter account, TESDA said Cruz was welcomed yesterday by officer-in-charge and deputy director general for policies and planning Rosanna Urdaneta, deputy director general John Bertiz and other officials at the agency’s office.

Coo, meanwhile, is a bowling icon who has bagged medals in various world and regional athletic events, including the Southeast Asian Games and Asian Games.

She is a four-time world champion, a World Bowling Hall of Famer and a PSC Hall of Fame awardee.

The incoming PSC commissioner is also the first Filipino athlete to be listed in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Coo was one of the outstanding Filipinos honored in commemorative stamps launched by the Philippine Postal Corp. this year.

She was also elected as president of the Philippine Bowling Federation last month.

Ex-PAL execs in government

After appointing Jaime Bautista as transport chief, President Marcos has handpicked three other former officials of flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) to handle various aviation portfolios.

According to the Department of Transportation (DOTr), the President has named Cesar Chiong as acting general manager of the Manila International Airport Authority.

Like Bautista, Chiong used to serve PAL in numerous positions, including as executive vice president and chief commercial officer of PAL’s budget carrier Airphil Express and also as officer-in-charge for domestic operations and commercial group of PAL itself.

Marcos has likewise designated Edgardo Diaz and Manuel Antonio Tamayo as deputy director generals of state-run Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines. Bautista has chosen Tamayo as acting director general for the meantime that the President has yet to assign a director general.

The pilot Diaz sat as vice president for operations of Airphil Express predecessor, PAL Express. Tamayo, also a pilot, held multiple posts in PAL from 1989 to 2016 before moving to government service to become transportation undersecretary for aviation and airports.

Chiong, Diaz and Tamayo will manage agencies under the DOTr headed by Bautista, who used to serve as president of PAL prior to his retirement in 2019.

Marcos has also instructed Civil Aeronautics Board executive director Carmelo Arcilla to remain as head of the agency.

On the other hand, the Chief Executive has selected Ma. O Rañada Aplasca, former director of the aviation security group of the Philippine National Police, as the administrator of the Office for Transportation Security.

Last, the President has installed Hernani Nieves Fabia as administrator of the Maritime Industry Authority. Fabia sat as president of maritime school and training center PNTC Colleges. – Elijah Felice Rosales