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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Duterte cites top 3 Cabinet performers: Tugade, Villar, Bello

Duterte cites top 3 Cabinet performers: Tugade, Villar, Bello

Published Mar 12, 2021 12:35 pm

If President Duterte's Cabinet members were enrolled in a school, three officials would be vying for the valedictorian spot.

President Duterte has praised Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, and Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III for being the top performers in the official family.

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, and Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III
(PNA / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)

Tugade and Bello were among the officials who accompanied the President during his visit to Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental Thursday, March 11. The President and his team first attended the inauguration of the development projects within the Dumaguete-Sibulan airport and then the inauguration of the new port operations building in Dumaguete.

"I’m happy that you have a good airport now and it was through the effort really of Arthur Tugade," Duterte said at the start of his speech at the airport.

"Si Arthur Tugade pati si Villar, Secretary, si Bebot, ito ‘yong naglalaban sa achievements sa kanilang pagkaopisyal (Arthur Tugade, Secretaries Villar and Bebot are vying for achievements in government)," he added.

The President particularly commended Tugade for being "hardworking and smart" during his speech. Duterte and Tugade were former classmates in San Beda College of Law.

"You know Tugade was our valedictorian sa law school. At that time he was already working for the Delgado Shipping. He was already an exe --- dako na’g posisyon (he held one of the big positions there)," he said.

"But we were not surprised that pag-graduate namo (when we graduated), he went on to become a billionaire. Billionaire ho itong Tugade na ito. So ito ‘yong airport niya. (Tugade is a billionaire. This is his airport). And he is a slave driver in the matter of people really working hard to achieve an objective on time," he added.

In his speech at the new Dumaguete port building, the President continued to heap praises on Tugade, citing his competence to improve the country's airports and ports. He remembered that Tugade was initially reluctant to join his administration but he eventually convinced the latter "to do his part in nation-building.".

"Lahat-lahat dito, airport pati iyong mga ports natin magaganda na sa panahon niya (All our airports and ports have become beautiful during his term)," he said.

"He was able to improve… Cebu was a splendid airport and other ports of authority. Hindi nga naman ma-ano, maliit, malaki, napa --- napaganda niya. So hindi ako naka --- I’m just saying na ganoon ka-talent itong tao na ito (Big or small, he was able to improve them. I'm just saying how talented this person is)," he added.

Duterte was also all praises for Villar during his Dumaguete visit. He cited the country's improved infrastructure network due to the hard work of the DPWH chief.

"The other one is Mark Villar. He is responsible for the Skyway now. And if you go out of Luzon and travel towards the north, makita mo a long stretch of highway, sementado, talagang maganda( you can see a long stretch of highway, cemented and really beautiful)," Duterte said.

"So he is not here but gusto ko lang purihin ‘yong tao kasi dapat naman talaga (but I want to praise this person because he deserves it)," the President said about Villar.

Shifting his attention to Bello, the President lauded the "hardworking fellow" in the labor department. He said Bello has been "handling any and all kinds of problems regarding our overseas workers."

"I don’t know if he is interested to run for senator or maybe baka doon sa kanila ‘yan tatakbo (or maybe he will run in his hometown), he is from Isabela," he said.

Tugade, Villar, and Bello have served in the Duterte Cabinet since the start of the President's term in 2016.

Related Tags

President Duterte Labor Secretary SIlvestre Bello III Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar Cabinet top performers Dumaguete City
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