DILG chief, CSC chair get CA confirmation

MANILA, Philippines —  The Commission on Appointments (CA) yesterday approved the ad interim appointment of Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla and Civil Service Commission (CSC) Chairperson Marilyn Barua-Yap.

Among Remulla’s plans for the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is the push for digitalizing local government units (LGUs) for efficient services, reforming the Philippine National Police and ensuring peaceful 2025 elections.

Senate President Francis Escudero, the concurrent CA chairman, said Remulla’s confirmation was supported by almost all members of the commission.

Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri, chairman of the CA committee on local government, said that Remulla “has committed to implementing reforms in the department, including enhancing efficiency in public service delivery through the digitalization of local government units and expanding the 911 emergency response system.”

“Secretary Remulla has committed to implementing organizational reforms within the Philippine National Police and ensuring peaceful elections in 2025 for candidates and voters alike,” he added.

Remulla’s appointment “will also encourage smoother coordination and improved communication between the national government and our local government units,” according to the senator.

Zubiri also highlighted Remulla’s accolades, among them the ISO:9001 certification of Cavite, the recognition of the province by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry as the “most business-friendly province” in 2021 and the consistent top ranking of the province in terms of performance and competitiveness among other LGUs.

“More importantly… our subject official has extensive experience in local government and administration, which I am sure will give him a better understanding of the issues and challenges confronting our LGUs today, and therefore place him in a better position to provide innovative solutions to address such challenges,” Zubiri said.

Sen. Joel Villanueva also expressed his full support to Remulla as “he demonstrated his commitment to good governance and his ability to translate vision into tangible action.”

Sen. Loren Legarda, who co-sponsored Remulla’s confirmation, said that “his vision to digitize local government units is well-aligned with the global shift toward modernization, efficiency and transparency in governance.”

Remulla was previously the governor of Cavite before being selected as interior secretary by President Marcos after the resignation of Benhur Abalos, who will be running for senator in the 2025 polls. Remulla is the younger brother of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla.

Meanwhile, the CA also approved the ad interim appointment of Barua-Yap as chairperson of the CSC for a term expiring on Feb. 2, 2029.

Sen. Cynthia Villar, chairperson of the CA committee on constitutional commissions and offices, supported the ad interim appointment of Barua-Yap, who has been a public servant for 39 years.

Barua-Yap first served as the first female secretary-general of the House in the 14th Congress and continued to serve as the House of Representatives secretary-general in the 15th and 16th Congresses.

The newly installed CSC chair said she prefers to keep the government’s mandatory retirement age at 65, while government employees can still avail themselves of optional retirement at age 60.

She also pointed out that the government’s resources are limited and this may affect the government’s ability to pay the retirement of other government employees.