Outgoing Cabinet members to take vacations, spend time at their farms

Several outgoing Cabinet members of the Arroyo administration are looking forward to their vacations, spend more time with their families and at their farms, or move back to their previous jobs. Acting Justice Secretary Alberto Agra, who has launched a countdown of his remaining days in office, will go on a vacation so that he can benefit from a well-needed rest. After June 30 — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s last day in office — Agra may also begin pursuing his interests such as accounting and reading financial statements. He may also return to lawyering, he said. Tourism Secretary Joseph Durano will take a three-week vacation that he’s been looking forward to "for the past five years," he said. He also plans to spend more time with his family and look after his teenage children. Like Agra and Durano, Budget Secretary Joaquin Lagonera will take time off somewhere within the country and then fly to the United States with his family. He will also spend more time with his family and later return to the private sector. Acting Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales said he will go on a two-day vacation before undertaking efforts to revive the Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas party. Gonzales said he would "peacefully oppose" the incoming administration and continue to advocate a parliamentary system. Once she leaves public service, presidential adviser on the peace process Annabelle Abaya said she will continue to help in the country’s peace efforts. Like Justice Secretary Agra, Executive Secretary Leandro Mendoza likewise has started his own countdown to his last day in office. Mendoza will allot more time to the Philippine Golfing Association, an organization which he heads. Presidential Management Staff secretary Ma. Elena Bautista-Horn and Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman will return to the private sector. Although they said they enjoyed their work in government, they aren’t exactly looking forward to public service soon. After June 30, Horn is expected to settle down with her husband in Panglao Island in Bohol, planning to devote more time with her family. Horn is expecting to give birth to twins in November. Three Cabinet members to spend more time at their farms For his part, Labor Secretary Marianito Roque will also go on vacation for at least a month and eventually look for a job. "The Labor Secretary will soon be jobless," he said, adding he will spend more time with his vegetable farm in Bataan. Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman will put more efforts to farming in his home province, Lanao del Sur. Like Roque and Pangandaman, National Anti-Poverty Commission secretary general Domingo Panganiban will also be retiring to his farm in Batangas. Two Cabinet members return to media jobs By next week, Press Secretary Crispulo Icban Jr. would be returning to his previous post as editor in chief of the Manila Bulletin. Meanwhile, Vice President and housing czar Noli de Castro may return to his old job as a broadcast journalist. However, he has yet to decide whether he will take on a television job or a radio job. “Wala, wala akong pagsisisi na pumasok ako sa pulitika sapagkat marami ako natutunan na hindi ko matutunan kung hindi ako pumasok sa pulitika," De Castro said, adding that part of the job includes being at the receiving end of criticism. (I have no regrets about entering politics because I learned a lot of things that I wouldn’t have otherwise.) Teves as consultant, Olivar as teacher Once President Arroyo steps down, Finance Secretary Margarito Teves will revive his economic and political consultancy firm. As a private citizen, Education Secretary Mona Valisno might even "write a book" and will do whatever she can to promote education. Chief presidential legal counsel Raoul Victorino is expected to become dean of the College of Law of the Philippine Christian University. Like Victorino, Deputy Presidential Spokesman Gary Olivar said he may return to teaching but at the Asian Institute of Management (AIM). Social Security System president Romulo Neri has received offers from consultancy firms and educational institutions but he has yet to decide what to do. Although he is inclined to do some consultancy work with friends, he is currently focused on his arraignment after being charged with graft for his involvement in the cancelled national broadband network project between the Philippine government and ZTE Corp. He has already posted bail Monday. Lapus, Domingo to attend to their health Public Works Secretary Victor Domingo is expected to put his focus on his real estate business and attend to his health condition. Similarly, Trade Secretary Jesli Lapus will also take better care of himself since work has already taken its toll on his health. Lapus said he is suffering from diabetes and hypertension. Philippine Information Agency head Conrado Limcaoco also expressed intentions to rest and “work on my health for now," after filing his resignation letter. Press Undersecretary Rogelio Peyuan plans to visit his family in Seattle, Washington state and possibly join a public relations company later on. National Economic Development Authority Deputy director for policies Dennis Arroyo, whose resignation is effective June 11, will return to the private sector. Other Cabinet secretaries who are all career officials — Social Welfare Celia Yangco, Acting Planning secretary Augusto Santos, Environment Secretary Horacio Ramos, and Agriculture Secretary Bernardo Fondevilla — are expected to return to their former positions of undersecretaries once permanent secretaries are appointed by President-elect Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III. - RJAB Jr./JV, GMANews.TV