Cabinet reshuffle: Yap back at DA

President Arroyo undertook another reshuffle of her Cabinet — involving at least eight major agencies — as part of an ongoing effort to improve the implementation of her programs, Malacañang officials said yesterday.

A ranking Palace source said Presidential Management Staff (PMS) Director General Arthur Yap was appointed to replace Agriculture Secretary Domingo Panganiban, who in turn will chair the National Anti-Poverty Commission.

The commission is headed by Secretary Cerge Remonde, concurrently head of the Government Mass Media Group. Remonde will take over Yap’s PMS post and remain as media group head.

The Palace official said Yap, being well-versed in Mrs. Arroyo’s "super regions" economic plan, would likely retain his portfolio as overall officer-in-charge of monitoring the program as it also has a significant impact on agriculture.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita announced at a press conference that Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board chairwoman Maria Elena Bautista was appointed undersecretary of the Department of Transportation and Communications. She will be replaced by DOTC spokesman Thompson Lantion.

Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief Anneli Lontoc was likewise moved to the DOTC as undersecretary but Ermita did not say who will replace her.

There are have been reports that LTO-National Capital Region chief Reynaldo Berroya is one of those being eyed to replace Lontoc, but officials could not confirm it.

The Cabinet changes caught many by surprise, including Ermita. "You are too fast," he told a press briefing. "But it’s better to wait for the official announcements because only the President can decide on these matters."

Ermita also announced the appointments of Cesar Sarmiento and Elmer Soneja as acting assistant secretaries of the DOTC.

Also appointed were Benedicto Ernesto Bitonio as senior vice president of the Development Bank of the Philippines and Gerardo Benjamin Nograles as acting chairman of the National Labor Relations Commission.

Mrs. Arroyo promoted Press Assistant Secretary Martin Crisostomo to undersecretary and assigned him to the Office of the President in charge of media affairs. He is at present with the Office of the Press Secretary.

All the announced appointments were signed by Mrs. Arroyo last Oct. 4.

Ermita also said the Palace has resubmitted the names of 11 Cabinet officials, including Finance Secretary Margarito Teves and Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez, to the Commission on Appointments for confirmation.

The officials were bypassed by the CA for various reasons, including lack of time. Congress went on recess last week.

Ermita said he could not confirm the appointments of Panganiban, Remonde and Yap as their appointment papers have not yet passed through his desk.

He, however, said there would be nothing unusual if there was another reshuffle in the official family.

"This is a continuing thing, it can happen in a moment’s notice, it can happen a week after it’s talked about," Ermita said.

"The reasons for the revamp might be that it’s about time there (are) such changes of position over a period of time as the President has to have a government that continues to evaluate the programs being undertaken and maybe the programs could be further enhanced by its (revamp) implementation, not because people are under-performing," he said.

He cited as an example the "super regions" program as a major economic thrust of the government that must be continuously monitored, referring to Mrs. Arroyo’s ambitious economic plan for the countryside.

Lantion said he has not yet been formally informed by the Palace about the appointment. "If that is the case, I’d like to thank them for the trust and confidence given to me," he told reporters.

Yap refused to comment on the reported Cabinet reshuffle until Malacañang makes an announcement. "But I am just a soldier. I will follow orders," he told reporters.

Panganiban, on the other hand, said: "That’s the President’s prerogative. I can’t do anything about that."

Bautista was also surprised to hear about her appointment. "I am flattered and honored and will do my best to craft policies for the transport sector," she said. — With Aurea Calica, Sandy Araneta