Frasco accepts DOT post; senators laud Cabinet picks

MANILA, Philippines — Mayor Cristina Garcia-Frasco of Liloan, Cebu has accepted the offer to lead the Department of Tourism (DOT) in the incoming administration of president-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

In a statement yesterday, Frasco vowed to lead the DOT in revitalizing the country’s tourism that was among the industries severely affected by the pandemic.

Frasco thanked Marcos for entrusting her with the portfolio in tourism, which is among the priorities of the incoming administration.

“I am eager to support president-elect Marcos’ vision to revitalize tourism so it may significantly propel the Philippines’ post-pandemic economic growth,” she said.

She also expressed gratitude to vice president-elect Sara Duterte-Carpio for trusting her to be the latter’s spokesperson.

“I look forward to serving with her and the president-elect as they usher in a new era of unity, prosperity and hope for our country,” she said.

The DOT has welcomed the appointment of Frasco, expressing hope that the incoming administration will continue “the momentum that we have generated the past few months toward the revival, recovery and resiliency of the tourism industry.”

For their part, the Philippine Hotel Owners Association (PHOA) congratulated Frasco for her new appointment.

“The officers and members of PHOA commit their unwavering support to secretary Frasco as she assumes her new position and spearheads the recovery efforts for the tourism industry,” the PHOA said in a separate statement.

Inclusive recovery

Incoming budget secretary Amenah Pangandaman, an assistant governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, accepted yesterday her nomination as head of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) under the administration of Marcos Jr.

“We support the incoming administration’s mission toward a broad-based and inclusive economic recovery, bringing the Philippines back on track to achieving a high-middle income status,” she said.

Pangandaman will be in charge of overseeing the budget for the entire government.

She vowed to pursue prudent management of the government’s fiscal resources, the modernization of the budget system, incorporation of sustainability and green principles in government spending and the promotion of sustainable economic growth through strategic investment in high-impact infrastructure and human capital development.

Action-oriented

Newly appointed Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) secretary, erstwhile broadcast journalist and news commentator Erwin Tulfo, said he will be an accessible, visible and action oriented executive.

In a virtual interview on CNN Philippines, Tulfo said he sees the designation as an opportunity to serve the public and make the DSWD more responsive and accessible to the marginalized public it is mandated to serve.

“I know it’s a big task really. There are a lot of things to be done and to be covered. I just thank God that I was given the opportunity, chosen by president-elect Bongbong Marcos to handle this agency,” Tulfo said.

“What I can promise right now is the help for the needy, elderly etc will be given ASAP. I will be on the ground. I want to be a secretary that can be reached and talked to by the public.”

Asked by host Pinky Webb about the sudden proliferation of Tulfos in the political arena being a cause for worry as a political dynasty, Tulfo said that this was in fact a boon to him as DSWD top executive.

“As a matter of fact, I welcome it as good news. They’ll be able to help me, if we have a law we want passed in Congress, and then definitely it will go up to the Senate for final approval, and then my brother is there. It will be a big factor if we have a law we want passed,” Tulfo said in English and Filipino.

He cited a priority concern for him as DSWD chief was the recent approval of a Senate bill that hikes social pension of indigent senior citizens from P500 a month to P1,000.

Tulfo said he would seek the help of his congressional relatives to rush the inclusion of indigent PWDs (persons with disability) to the measure.

Best team

Senators hailed yesterday the appointment of Pangandaman as the secretary of the DBM.

“We welcome with open arms the appointment of Amenah Pangandaman as the incoming budget secretary under the Marcos administration. Given her long experience in both the legislature and the executive branches, we look forward to working with Mina once again as we go over the 2023 national budget later this year,” Sen. Sonny Angara, who chairs the Senate committee on finance, said in a statement.

Returning senator Loren Legarda also welcomed Pangandaman’s appointment as well as the other members of Marcos Jr.’s economic team, namely BSP Gov. Benjamin Diokno as secretary of finance; BSP Monetary Board member Felipe Medalla as central bank governor; Arsenio Balisacan as secretary of the National Economic and Development Authority and former University of the Philippines president Alfredo Pascual as secretary of trade and industry.

“The president has chosen the best team to steer the economy through its recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic,” Legarda said.

She stressed that apart from being experts in their respective fields, members of the incoming economic team are known for their integrity and proven track record. “They are also widely respected by the business community both here and abroad,” she said.

Legarda personally attested to the competence of Diokno and Pangandaman, both of whom she worked with closely as chair of the finance panel.

Quezon City Rep. Alfred Vargas also lauded Marcos’ recent picks for members of his Cabinet, describing them as “forward-looking, pro-active and competent.”

“The appointments give us confidence that the Filipino people will be in good hands. This is a Cabinet that will help our president-elect fulfill his promises to our countrymen and address whatever challenge may lie ahead,” Vargas added. – Ralph Edwin Villanueva, Delon Porcalla, Elijah Felice Rosales, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Paolo Romero, Rainier Allan Ronda