Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin ‘Benhur’ Abalos, Jr. expressed deep gratitude on Thursday, Sept. 15, to the Commission on Appointment (CA) for the ‘overwhelming appreciation’ to his integrity as a politician and Cabinet member after being confirmed and getting his ad interim appointment.

“I have been the Secretary of the DILG for close to three months now and it is encouraging to hear from colleagues in service that our efforts, both now and our years out of DILG, are noticed. To the CA, salamat po inyong pagtitiwala (thank you for your trust),” Abalos said.

Abalos was conferred the ad interim appointment in a CA plenary session headed by Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri in the presence of CA members.

Prior to this, Abalos participated in the CA Committee of Interior and Local Government hearing tackling issues such as the implementation of the Mandanas-Garcia ruling on full devolution; the DILG’s move on the war against illegal drugs; the Safe Philippines project; and, rightsizing in the government sector, among others.

During the CA hearing, Abalos cited that to control the propagation of illegal drugs, a collective government effort must be implemented to identify and cut the roots of the problem such as poverty, criminality, and other social ills.

He noted that the DILG will launch a campaign utilizing the whole-of-nation approach in the uphill battle against illegal drugs and to bring the perpetrators to justice.

“We must harness the support of the grassroots, the schools, the community, the church, everyone. And that’s what we intend to do in our fight against illegal drugs,” he added.

Abalos admitted the Philippine National Police, despite its continued efforts to innovate, still lacks more than 5,000 body cameras to fully comply with the Supreme Court resolution mandating law enforcers to have at least one body-worn camera and one alternative recording device to record relevant incidents during the execution of a search or arrest warrants.

On the issue of the implementation of Republic Act No. 11861 or the Expanded Solo Parent Act, Abalos committed the full support of the DILG in executing its provision and pushing forward the creation of a memorandum to further incite support from local government units (LGUs).

“It’s a very well-crafted law at ako ay naniniwala sa intensyon nito. Asahan n’yo po na susuporta po kami dito (and I believe in its purpose. Expect our support in this act).” Abalos maintained.

The DILG chief also revealed the concept of connecting all closed circuit televisions (CCTVs) in the country rather than buying new equipment saying that “this is a waste of financial resources and advocated for developing a software application for it.’’

Kind words from colleagues

Abalos was appreciative of his ad interim appointment made official by the CA as he appreciated the kind words said by his colleagues in public service during the Committee hearing, many of whom he has known for decades.

“It was a joy to witness and hear friends in government service who are members of the Committee of Interior and Local Government stating their appreciation for the service that I have rendered for decades,” Abalos shared.

“It makes me think na kahit papaano ay tayo ay may nagagawang mabuti dito sa larangan na ating pinasok (that we have done something good in the field we went into),’’ Abalos said.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said he witnessed firsthand Abalos’ kindness and dedication to service during their stint in Congress, saying that he gives his “101 percent support for this gentleman for the Secretary of the Interior and Local Government.”

On the other hand, Camarines Sur 2nd District Representative Luis Raymund Villafuerte, Jr. said he is elated that the leader of the DILG is a former local chief executive.

He stressed that this gives Abalos leverage in understanding the needs, sentiments, and concerns of LGUs.

Meanwhile, Senator Bong Go said Abalos “without question is a man of dignity and honor”. He said Abalos’ track record is a testament to his brand of leadership most recent of which is his effective management of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) during the early onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Based on the Confirmation Process exercised by CA for heads of the Executive Department, following the CA confirmation, the appointment made by the Commission shall be submitted to the Office of the President. (Chito A. Chavez)