Former justice sec named presidential adviser for gov't centers

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo announced Tuesday the appointment of former Justice Secretary Silvestre Bello III as the new Presidential Adviser for New Government Centers.

"I would like to announce the appointment of Secretary Bello as the new Presidential Adviser for New Government Centers with a Cabinet rank," the President said during the full Cabinet meeting held this afternoon at Malacanang.

The Office of the Presidential Adviser for New Government Centers (OPANGC) was created under Executive Order No. 352.

As head of the OPANGC, Bello’s primary responsibility is to advise the President on matters pertaining to policies, programs and projects geared towards the promotion of regional development through the transfer of selected government agencies to specific regions or areas where they are needed the most.

Its other main powers and functions cover the identification of ideal sites for proposed national government centers (NGCs) outside Metro Manila with emphasis on unutilized government-owned buildings and facilities that will house the departments and other national government agencies whose central offices have been previously decided to be transferred or relocated outside Metro Manila.

Prior to his new appointment, Bello was the general manager and chief executive officer of the Philippine Reclamation Authority from January-December 2006 and president and chief executive officer of Philippine National Oil Co. (PNOC)-Development and Management Corp.

He was also the chairman of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) panel for talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) from 2001-2004.

He held the Justice Secretary portfolio for almost three years and served as Solicitor-General from 1996 to 1998.