Palace expects to fill up key govt vacancies by December

Malacañang expects to complete by December the filling up of some 1,300 vacancies in key government positions, a Palace official said Saturday. Deputy presidential spokeswoman Abigail Valte said the Palace has so far filled up more than half of these 1,300 vacancies, appointing more than 300 officials in the last two weekends. "So far I think we have filled up more than half these vacancies. Every weekend we have been announcing new appointments. It is a matter of time before the vacancies are filled up," Valte said on government-run dzRB radio. When asked if all the 1,300 vacancies will be filled up by December, she said, “siguro, mukhang kaunti ang kailangan punuan (it seems we can fill up the posts. There are only a few vacancies to fill)," she said. Among the latest appointments Valte announced Saturday were:

• Former socio-economic planning secretary Felipe Medalla, member of the Board of Directors of Philippine National Oil Co.
• Former Health Secretary Jaime Galvez-Tan, member of the board of commissioners of the Commission on Population.
• Josefino Torres as Overseas Workers Welfare Administration deputy administrator.