GMA prods Cabinet to work harder amid performance review

In the midst of an ongoing performance review on members of her official family, President Arroyo prodded her Cabinet officials to work harder in implementing the programs of her administration.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita and Presidential Management Staff chief Secretary Cerge Remonde, in separate interviews, said Mrs. Arroyo also directed her officials to ignore the increasing political noise ahead of the 2010 elections.

“The President told us that we should not to disappoint the people by working harder in our respective tasks so that she said there would be more food on the table, more jobs and business and investment opportunities for the ordinary Filipino,” Ermita said.

“She also reminded us not to be drowned out by the political activities now emerging early because of the elections and be focused on what we should do,” he said.

Ermita said the President stressed before them the time for planning is over and the government should now implement the projects and programs of the administration, particularly on infrastructure projects in rural areas.

In December, Mrs. Arroyo began what officials said was a performance review of her Cabinet in the attempt to tweak the efficiency of her government with the possibility of reshuffling her official family as the need arises.

It appears that the Cabinet would stay intact, Ermita claimed, though he conceded the President may exercise her prerogative to remove or appoint persons to various posts in her government as she sees fit.

Palace officials earlier admitted some losing administration senatorial candidates would be appointed to the government once the one year ban lapses in May.

Remonde, for his part, said Mrs. Arroyo has grown impatient over the delay in the implementation of her flagship projects, particularly on irrigation, farm-to-market roads and electrification in rural areas as well as the rehabilitation and construction of airports.

He said Mrs. Arroyo has been cracking the whip on officials to come up with mitigating measures on the strengthening peso and rising fuel prices.

Remonde, who also chairs Malacañang’s Infrastructure Pro-Performance Steering Committee, said he is awaiting the final report on the status of the implementation of various infrastructure projects scheduled to be finished by Dec. 31 last year.

The government is expected to complete the construction, rehabilitation and expansion last year of 23 priority infrastructure projects worth over P61 billion, Remonde said.

Of the 23 projects, Remonde said 10 have already been completed as of Nov. 31, 2007.

Of the total amount, P36.12 billion went to the completed projects, while the balance of P25.15 billion covered projects to be completed in the last quarter of 2007.

Of the 23, four projects are in the Luzon Urban Beltway, 11 in Central Philippines, four in Mindanao while four are implemented nationwide, Remonde added.

These projects include four airports, 10 seaports, three power and electrification, and two roads and bridges projects.

The four infrastructure projects being implemented nationwide are the farm-to-market roads (FMRs), cold chain facilities, hospital upgrading, and small irrigation, he said.