Noy name 6 more to DTI, BCDA, Pag-IBIG

MANILA, Philippines - A week before the Oct. 25 barangay elections, President Aquino has issued six more appointments, two of whom he designated in an acting capacity at the Department of Trade and Industry.

Ireneo Vizmonte and Celestino Negapatang have been designated in an “acting capacity” Director III and provincial director, respectively, of DTI, according to Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte.

A member of the board of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority, in the person of Teresita Desierto, has also been appointed by President Aquino.

Tomas Lopez Jr. was appointed member of the board of trustees of the Home Development Mutual Fund, or the Pag-ibig Fund, representing the government employees sector. 

Valte also disclosed that Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa and Amando Dimarucot Jr. have been appointed members of the board of the Asian Productivity Organization, whose organization will fall under the jurisdiction of Secretary for Operations Herminio “Sonny” Coloma.

President Aquino has asked for an exemption in the appointments ban, which will expire on Nov. 10, and was granted such by the Commission on Elections, who gave the go-signal for the appointments of some 143 vacant government posts.

Last Saturday, President Aquino has also appointed Vice President and housing czar Jejomar Binay as presidential adviser on overseas Filipino workers’ concerns. The position was also held by former Vice President Noli de Castro, who now returned to ABS-CBN network.

Valte said Mr. Aquino also nominated former Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff Lt. Gen. Nestor Ochoa as ambassador to Brunei. Ochoa served as acting AFP chief when Mr. Aquino assumed office but was replaced by Gen. Ricardo David Jr.

Valte also said Noe Wong was re-appointed ambassador to Cambodia.

The new commissioners of the Cebu Ports Authority have also been appointed. These are: former Maritime Industry Authority administrator Vicente Suazo Jr., representing the shipping sector; Benjamin Akol, also representing the shipping sector; Arturo Barrit, representing cargo handling; lawyer Joselito Quedaria; engineer Carlos Co, representing the business sector; and engineer Dennis Villamor, also representing the business sector.

As other career diplomats wait to be assigned, the longest-serving political ambassador in the country wants to be retained in her post.