The Commission on Appointments (CA) on Tuesday, May 16 approved the appointment of former Valenzuela mayor and representative Rex Gatchalian as
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) secretary.
Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian raises his hand as he takes an oath at the start of the Commission on Appointments’ (CA) hearing on his ad interim appointment Tuesday, May 16, 2023. (Senate PRIB Photo)
The 25-member Commission, during its plenary session presided by Senate President Juan Miguel F. Zubiri, concurrent CA chief, also confirmed the appointments of 50 general/flag officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) headed by Lt. General Arthur M. Cordura and Vice Admiral Toribio D. Adaci Jr.
Gatchalian, brother of Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, vowed to fulfill President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s marching orders which is to achieve “a single digit poverty rate” before the end of his term.
The DSWD chief also vowed to “come up with development programs to break the cycle of poverty.”
The President appointed Gatchalian as the secretary of the DSWD after the members of the CA bypassed the confirmation of broadcaster Erwin Tulfo.
Senators Grace Poe, Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito, Christopher “Bong” Go and Alan Peter Cayetano, were among those who manifested their support for Gatchalian’s appointment during the plenary deliberations.
“His track record, humility, and passion for efficiency and innovation makes him the
ideal person to lead the DSWD,” Poe said.
Ejercito said he recalled working with the former mayor, saying he was amazed with how the latter turned Valenzuela City into a “yardstick” of local governrance.
“I recommend Secretary Rex (for DSWD) not only because of his governance, but also because of his innovative programs,” Ejercito said.
“Secretary Rex along with his family, spent most of his life in public service, having served the government for the last 16 years, including his stint as chief executive of the city of Valenzuela for three consecutive terms. He has proven his unconditional love and devotion to the people and to the country,” Go also said.
Rep. Johnny Pimentel of the minority group from House of Representatives contingent gave his "1,000 percent" support to Gatchalian’s confirmation.
Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda also gave her "200 percent" support for the confirmation of Gatchalian who once served as her spokesman. She said she is confident he could do his job very well, and said that the former mayor has a logical mind and vey organized, and compassionate.
Meanwhile, the AFP officials whose appointments were confirmed by the CA Committee on National Defense were:
Arthur Cordura to the rank of Lieutenant General, Philippine Air Force (PAF)
Toribio Adaci Jr. to the rank of Vice Admiral, Philippine Navy (PN)
Efren Baluyot to the rank of Lieutenant General, Philippine Army (PA)
Stephen Parreño to the rank of Lieutenant General, PAF
Benedict Arevalo to the rank of Lieutenant General, PA
Roy Galido to the rank of Lieutenant General, PA
Fernyl Buca to the rank of Major General, PAF
Antonio Nafarrete to the rank of Major General, PA
Jose Ambrosio Ezpeleta to the rank of Rear Admiral, PN
Joseph Ferrous Cuison to the rank of Major General, PN
Edgar Cardinoza to the rank of Major General, PAF
Aristotle Gonzales to the rank of Major General, PAF
Audrey Pasia to the rank of Major General, PA
Jose Maria Cuerpo II to the rank of Major General, PA
Leonel Nicolas to the rank of Major General, PA
Marvin Licudine to the rank of Major General, PA
Arturo Rojas to the rank of Major General, PN
George Blanco to the rank of Major General, PAF
Facundo Palafox IV to the rank of Major General, PA
Potenciano Camba to the rank of Major General, PA
Noel Beleran to the rank of Brigadier General, PN
Teofilo Bailon Jr. to the rank of Major General, PAF
Joel Alejando Nacnac to the rank of Major General, PA
Mac Raul Racacho to the rank of Rear Admiral, PN
Ronie Petinglay to the rank of Brigadier General, PAF
Reynold Rueca to the rank of Brigadier General, PAF
Perfecto Peñaredondo to the rank of Brigadier General, PA
Oriel Pangcog to the rank of Brigadier General, PA
Alan Javier to the rank of Commodore, PN
Gerold Gagan to the rank of Brigadier General, PAF
Rommel Almaria to the rank of Brigadier General, PA
Alexei Musñgi to the rank of Brigadier General, PA
Edmundo Peralta to the rank of Brigadier General, PA
Rommel Cordova to the rank of Brigadier General, PA
Edgar Torres to the rank of Brigadier General, PAF
Nestor Narag to the rank of Brigadier General, PN
Joel Paloma to the rank of Brigadier General, PA
Noel Vestuir to the rank of Brigadier General, PA
Ramil Oloroso to the rank of Brigadier General, PAF
Francis Anthony Coronel to the rank of Brigadier General, PA
Leo Fontanilla to the rank of Brigadier General, PAF
Leodigario Macalintal to the rank of Brigadier General, PAF
Michael Santos to the rank of Brigadier General, PA
Ferdinand Napuli to the rank of Brigadier General, PA
Leodevic Guinid to the rank of Brigadier General, PA
Bernardo Fortez to the rank of Brigadier General, PA
Marcos Imperio to the rank of Commodore, PN
Federico Enriquez to the rank of Brigadier General, PAF
Rolando Sarmiento to the rank of Commodore, PN
Eric Garchitorena to the rank of Brigadier General, Medical Corps (Reserved)
Alan Cayetano, during Tuesday’s deliberation of the CA’s Committee on National Defense, highlighted the need to strengthen the country’s military strategy particularly in the West Philippine Sea.
Cayetano also explained the importance of military leaders being critical thinkers and having clear strategies.
“Just an encouragement (to our military), the proper process is not only to be critical thinkers but also to strengthen our military establishment so that it will not only be the chief advisory unit of the President when it comes to military matter but together with our diplomats, we will balance our strategy and decision making,” Cayetano said.
“It is very clear what China's strategy is, it is also very clear what the US strategy is, but it is also very unclear what our strategy is, unless our strategy is to confuse China and US on what our strategy is,” he stressed. (With reports by Mario Casayuran)