Bautista out; Dizon next transport chief

PCO chief goes on leave

- ALEXIS ROMERO

A corporate executive who held various posts in the Duterte administration has been appointed new transportation secretary by President Marcos, replacing Jaime Bautista who quit for "health reasons."

In a statement, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said the appointment of Vince Dizon as secretary of the Department of Transportation (DOT) takes effect on Feb. 21.

"He is already authorized by the Office of the President to start the transition at the DOTr in coordination with the team of Secretary Jaime Bautista, who has resigned due to health reasons," Bersamin said in a statement yesterday.

Dizon, chief regulatory officer of Prime Infrastructure, was presidential adviser on flagship programs and projects and president and chief executive officer of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) during the Duterte administration.

During the pandemic, he was the "testing czar" and deputy chief implementer of the National Task Force against COVID-19.

Bersamin denied that Bautista, who turned 68 this month, was asked to resign because Marcos was not satisfied with his performance.

"Secretary Jimmy Bautista signified that he might need to rest because of health issues...

When the President and Secretary Bautista talked about it, it became clear to the President that Secretary Bautista may really need to take a rest from official duties," Bersamin said.

"The President and Secretary Bautista talked at length about (the latter's) situation... There is no other consideration there."

PCO chief on leave

Asked about rumors that Information and Communications Technology Secretary Ivan Uy and Presidential Communications (PCO) Secretary Cesar Chavez are on their way out, Bersamin replied:

"I do not know yet how true they are or if there is any basis.