Days before he steps down from the presidency, President Duterte has named new officers-in-charge (OICs) to oversee the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for the remaining seven days of his administration.
In a statement, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar confirmed that Duterte designated David Erro as DAR OIC.
Meanwhile, the President named Joselin Marcus Fragada the OIC of the DENR.
The leadership changes in the two agencies came days before the end of Duterte's six-year term on June 30. The Palace did not say why the President implemented these changes.
Erro replaced Bernie Cruz, who served as DAR acting secretary following the resignation of John Castriciones. Castriciones stepped down from the post in October last year to join the 2022 senatorial race.
Fragada, on the other hand, replaced Jim Sampulna, who became DENR acting secretary after Roy Cimatu resigned in February 2022 due to health reasons.
The two will be leading their respective agencies for one week before Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. takes oath as the next Philippine President.
Marcos Jr. has designated ABONO Partylist Rep. Conrado Estrella III as his DAR Secretary, while he has yet to name his DENR Secretary.