Arroyo appoints Usec Fondevilla as new Agriculture chief

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Monday named Undersecretary Bernardo G. Fondevilla as the new chief of the Agriculture department following the resignation of Secretary Arthur Yap. “Hinihintay ko ang papeles sa pagpirma ko ng kanyang (Yap) kapalit. Anyway, ang kapalit niya, alam na natin ang Usec (undersecretary) niya, si Bernie Fondavilla, iyun ang kapalit ni Secretray Yap," Mrs. Arroyo said. Mrs. Arroyo's announcement was made during the inspection of the Casecnan Multipurpose Irrigation and Power Project (CMIPP) in Guimba, Nueva Ecija where both Yap and Fondevilla were present. Fondevilla is the current chair of the El Niño Task Force, which was reactivated to buffer the effects of the dry spell. He also served as former executive director of the National Agriculture and Fishery Council (NAFC), and the Agriculture Competitive Enhancement Fund. He was also named acting secretary of the Agriculture department during Yap’s trip abroad last month. Yap, who is seeking a congressional seat in the third district of Bohol, relinquished his post after the Supreme Court ruled that appointive officials are deemed resigned upon filing their certificate of candidacies. Other Cabinet officials who resigned following the SC's decision were Budget chief Rolando Andaya Jr., Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, and Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera. Meanwhile, Devanadera said President Arroyo will "most likely" choose Solicitor General Alberto Agra as her replacement, although a recent statement from chief presidential legal counsel Raul Gonzalez said that former undersecretary Ernesto Pineda should replace her. “Undersecretary Pineda has proven his worth during his stint as undersecretary of the DOJ with his loyalty, intellect and dedication to the service," Gonzalez said. Devanadera, who is running for a Lower House seat representing the first district of Quezon province, has submitted her resignation letter last week. In an ambush interview, she disclosed that Mrs. Arroyo has already chosen her replacement and is set to announce it soon. Former DOJ Undersecretary Manuel Teehankee, who is currently the country’s Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organization, is among those considered for the DOJ portfolio.—JV, GMANews.TV