Faster actions at the DICT

COMMONSENSE

- MARICHU A. VILLANUEVA

Despite being newly installed in office just last March 20 this year, Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) "acting" Secretary Henry Rhoel Aguda promptly submitted his courtesy resignation from the Cabinet of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. (PBBM). Demanded by the appointing authority in an order issued by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin last May 21, Aguda was one of the first Cabinet officials who submitted courtesy resignations to Malacañang the very next day.

On the eve of his confirmation hearing before the Commission on Appointments (CA) last Tuesday, Aguda, along with fellow newly appointed Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Vivencio Dizon and Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Jay Ruiz, each received phone calls from the Executive Secretary. The three got appointed by PBBM, one after the other, during the recess of the 19th Congress. Hence, they held their respective posts on an ad interim basis until and unless approved by the CA. Resuming sessions, the CA subcommittee chairman Sen. Joel Villanueva first asked individually the three Cabinet officials if they have been reappointed to the Marcos Cabinet.

Aguda and Dizon reported to the 25-man bicameral body that Bersamin personally informed each of them that PBBM did not accept their courtesy resignations. Except for Ruiz, who admitted being told by the Executive Secretary to stay on at the PCO until further notice. After three hours of grilling, the appointment of Dizon breezed through the CA. Due to lack of material time, the appointments of Aguda and Ruiz will be taken up next week before sessions adjourn sine die on June 13.