PNoy names new food security czar

MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno Aquino III has appointed a new food security czar to replace Francis Pangilinan, who is running for senator in the 2016 elections.

Aquino named Fredelita Guiza, who will hold Cabinet rank, as new presidential assistant on food security and agricultural modernization.

The president also appointed Reynaldo Laguda as the successor of Department of Education undersecretary for finance and administration Francisco Varela, who died in a motorcycle accident in Tanay, Rizal in August.

Aquino also appointed lawyer Erdelyne Go as deputy chief presidential legal counsel, also with the rank of Undersecretary.

Completing the list of newly appointed and promoted public officials in their respective departments and agencies are the following:

• Teresita Cortez Fortuna - Director IV, Department of Science and Technology;

• Constante Acuña Llanes, Jr. - Director IV, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH);

• Maria Nieva Sison de la Paz, Acting Director IV, DPWH;

• Celia Carpio Carlos - Director III, Department of Health (DOH);

• Maria Lourdes Caballero Santiago, Acting Deputy Director General for Field Regulatory Operations, Food and Drug Administration, DOH;

• Nordy Lisondra Plaza - Director III, Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC);

• Romulo Villegas Bernardes - Director II, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), DOTC;

• Rodolfo Los Baños Jaucian - Director II, LTFRB, DOTC;

• Robert Dosono Peig - Director II, DOTC;

• Teofilo Estrada Guadiz III - Director II, LTFRB, DOTC;

• Francis Ray Arnibal Almora - Director I, LTFRB, DOTC;

• Jose Eduardo Leyson Natividad, Acting Director IV (Regional Director), DOTC;

• Adeline Tejada de Castro, Acting Director IV, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE);

• Jesus Gabriel Capili Domingo, Acting Deputy Administrator (Deputy Executive Director V), Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, DOLE;

• Englebert Caguioa Lasang, Member (representing the Workers Sector), Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board, Region IV-A, National Wages and Productivity Commission, DOLE;

• Josephine Rima-Santiago, Director General, Intellectual Property Office, Department of Trade and Industry;

• Emmanuel Niño Wee Ang, Foreign Trade Service Officer II, Philippine Foreign Trade Service Corps, DTI;

• Jhoaden Guelos Lucero, Local Government Operations Officer VIII, Department of Interior and Local Government;

• Ireneo Galicia, Government Corporate Counsel, Office of the Government Corporate Counsel, Department of Justice;

• Dexter Bun-Go Calizar, Member, Human Rights Victims’ Claims Board;

• Jose Alejandre Payumo III, Deputy Secretary General, Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council;

• Arlyn Sicangco Villanueva, Member (Professional Regulatory Board of Accountancy), Professional Regulation Commission;

• Robert Samoy Sac, Chairperson, Professional Regulatory Board of Architecture, PRC;

• Robert Medina Mirafuente, Member (Professional Regulatory Board of Architecture), PRC