Aquino eyes changes in DENR, DILG

President Benigno Aquino III on Thursday said there might be changes in the leadership and structure in the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), respectively, where he appointed only acting secretaries. In an ABS-CBN interview, Aquino said he is looking to replace acting DENR Secretary Ramon Paje next year with one of his party-mates in the Liberal Party. "Sa DENR bakante next year, meron talaga kaming advocate sa partido na talagang linya po yung ecology at yun ho parang ire-reevaluate natin (The DENR post will be vacant next year, we have an advocate in the party whose expertise is ecology, so we will reevaluate that)," said Aquino, even as he stressed that he has no problem with Paje. Rumors were rife even before Aquino formally took over the presidency that he would appoint his party-mate, former Bukidnon congressman Neric Acosta, to the DENR. However, Acosta—who lost in his senatorial bid last May—cannot be appointed until next year because of the constitutional one-year ban on appointing losing candidates. Acosta authored many environmental laws during his stint in the House of Representatives, including the Clean Water Act and the Clean Air Act. As for the DILG, Aquino said he was pleased with acting secretary Jesse Robredo's performance but he wants to fast-track the resolution of the informal settlers problem. Aquino hinted that he might create a new group that would focus on solving the problem of informal settlers. When asked by GMANews.TV via text if he is planning to create a new attached agency under the DILG, Aquino answered that "no changes at this time are being contemplated." However, he added that "it is an option given the enormity of the informal settlers' concerns." The President later said in another text message that there are "no plans of transferring [Robredo] anywhere." Aquino had earlier made permanent the appointment of one acting secretary, Rosalinda Baldoz of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). - Jam L. Sisante/KBK, GMANews.TV