Arroyo appoints Neri as SSS president

(Updated 2:40 p.m.) MANILA, Philippines - President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has named Commission on Higher Education (CHED) chairman Romulo Neri as the new president of the Social Security System, replacing Corazon dela Paz. Press Secretary Jesus Dureza announced that Neri will assume his new post on August 1. Dureza said President Arroyo has accepted Dela Paz's resignation and thanked her for the reforms she carried out at the SSS. Neri’s appointment will effectively makes him a cluster head in the newly-formed National Social Welfare Program, which has a P45 billion fund, said the report. The appointment of Neri to the SSS portfolio ended weeks of speculation that he would be "transferred" to the SSS. Before heading the CHED, Neri - who is considered a key witness in the controversial national broadband network deal between the Philippines and China - was the director general of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA). Earlier in the day, Dela Paz confirmed that she has submitted her resignation letter to Malacañang, citing health reasons, old age and her desire to go back to the private sector as reasons behind her decision to leave the agency. Aside from the reasons she stated, Dela Paz would not give any other information as to what really pushed her to vacate her seat. “Sa akin na lang iyon sa ngayon," she said. Dela Paz said that in the letter she sent to Malacañang, she requested that her resignation be made effective by July 31. - GMANews.TV