Paje appointed as UNESCO commissioner

MANILA, Philippines –  President Aquino has given acting Environment Secretary Ramon Paje a more permanent position as commissioner representing the government in the UNESCO National Commission of the Philippines with a tenure of three years.

Paje is expected to be replaced by Aquino’s party mate and former Bukidnon Rep. Nereus Acosta once the ban on candidates who ran in the last elections is lifted in June.

Paje will serve as environment secretary and UNESCO commissioner at the same time.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte also announced the appointment of Maria Rosario Aguinaldo as Philippine ambassador to Indonesia and former deputy House speaker Raul del Mar as government representative on the board of the United Coconut Planters’ Bank.

Nathaniel Servando also was named acting administrator of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration while Flaviano Hilario, Vicente Malano and Catalino Davis were appointed acting deputy administrators. 

Others appointed were Cecilia Alba as secretary- general of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council and Ria Corazon Golez-Cabrera as commissioner with a term ending Feb. 16, 2015.

Arthur Saipudin was appointed as acting director II of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board; Maria Joy Jarabello, member of the Philippine Commission on Women representing the urban poor sector; Simplicio Domingo, acting director III, Bureau of Customs; Richard Juanillo, acting director III, Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development under the Department of Science and Technology; and Rene Burt Llanto, acting director IV, Department of Science and Technology.

Named as board members of the UCPB were Menardo Jimenez, as chairman, and Ramon Sy, Gemino Macaraeg Jr., Cristina Orbeta, Angela Ignacio, Danilo Pulido, Carlos Estabillo, Nilo Divina, Jose A. Poblete, Juan Andres Bautista and Richard Amurao, board members.

Appointed to the Office of the President, coterminous, were Nabil Tan as undersecretary and Gina Campano-de la Cruz and Lila Shahani, assistant secretaries.

Designated prosecutors I under the Department of Justice were Audrey An Española (Iloilo); Joseph Cortez, (Negros Oriental); Rene Romero Jr. (Ormoc City); Pete Zamora (Zamboanga del Norte); and Joseph Edward Sam Yularan (Ozamis City).

Appointed prosecutor II was Nefertiri Cristobal of Tagbilaran City.