Ex-speaker named special envoy to Japan

MANILA, Philippines — Former House speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. has been appointed special envoy of the President to Japan for trade and market access effective Tuesday.

Belmonte was a member of the House of Representatives from Quezon City’s fourth congressional district. He held his seat for three consecutive terms from 1992 to 2001 and was speaker of the House in 2001. He also served as House minority leader.

Belmonte was elected speaker in the 15th Congress.

In 2001, he won the election for mayor of Quezon City and was re-elected in 2004 and 2007.

He was credited for his nine years of prudent fiscal management, aggressive tax management strategies and increasing efficiency and discipline in management and use of resources when he was mayor.

He also made Quezon City the most competitive city of Metro Manila and second in the Philippines.

During his stint as mayor, Quezon City was cited for the dynamism of its local economy, quality of life of its residents and responsiveness of the local government in addressing business and other needs.

Under his watch, Quezon City was ranked No. 7 Asian City of the Future, based on a survey commissioned by the London Financial Times, through a consultancy agency based in Singapore, in 2007.

In 2008, Quezon City ranked 21st among emerging global outsourcing cities, the highest among nine new entrants.

Belmonte was married to the late Betty Go-Belmonte, founder of The Philippine STAR.

The former House speaker, also a known Lakas party stalwart, is the father of Philippine Star Group CEO and president Miguel Go-Belmonte, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte and businessmen Isaac and Kevin.

President Duterte also reappointed Agrarian Reform Secretary Willam Dar and Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado as ad interim secretaries. They have yet to hurdle the Commission on Appointments after the first regular session of Congress adjourned on Oct. 4.

Malacañang released yesterday the reappointment papers of Dar and Avisado, dated Oct. 11 and Oct. 14, respectively.

Duterte also appointed Jaime Cruz as special envoy to the People’s Republic of China for trade and investment.

The Palace appointed Golda Margareth Argel as member of the board of directors of the UCPB General Insurance Co. Inc.; Joel Abutal, commodore of the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy under the Department of Transportation and Pedro Miguel Santos, director III of the Presidential Communications Operations Office.