Arroyo, Aquino transition teams hold another meeting on Wednesday

Transition teams of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and her successor Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino III held another meeting at the Palace on Wednesday to discuss details of the change in administration on June 30. During the meeting, Mrs. Arroyo’s team handed over two boxes containing documents and "blueprints" of all the government agencies, Presidential Management Staff chief Elena Bautista-Horn said. The boxes contained a list of around 4,300 vacant executive government positions that has yet to be filled up, a radio report said. The documents also contained a list of over 50,000 rank and file positions that would be vacated once Mrs. Arroyo leaves her office. During the meeting, Executive Secretary Leandro Mendoza also tried squeezing in his suggestion to declare June 30 — the day of Aquino's inauguration — as a non-working holiday. However, the transition teams have yet to act on the proposal. Before the meeting, the transition teams also conducted an ocular inspection of both the Quezon City Memorial Circle — one of the places earlier considered for the inauguration — and the Quirino Grandstand, the inauguration venue. The team also inspected parts of the Palace, including those that will be used for Aquino’s first Cabinet meeting as well as his inaugural reception on June 30. Last week, the transition teams also met up and discussed the "pattern" or "template" to be followed for ceremonies, including oath-taking, the convening of the Cabinet, the vin d’honneur, and arrival honors for the incoming president. After the meeting, the Aquino transition team paid a visit to the Premiere Guest House where former President Corazon Aquino used to hold office. — Mark D. Merueñas/RJAB Jr./RSJ, GMANews.TV