Appointments panel recommends DPWH chief for confirmation
A panel of the powerful Commission on Appointments on Wednesday recommended without fuss the confirmation of Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson. During Wednesday's CA public works and highways committee hearing, no lawmaker or private citizen made any objection to the nomination of Singson as head of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). Only Maguindanao Rep. Simeon Datumanong asked Singson a question, specifically on whether his former post as president and chief executive officer of Maynilad, the largest water concessionaire in the Philippines, would affect his decisions as DPWH chief. Singson, however, said that although there was "no love lost" for Maynilad, this will not affect his decision-making in any way. He likewise said that he has sold all his shares in Maynilad when he took his post in the department. But he said that he was probably recommended for confirmation right away because the lawmakers were convinced that his programs for the DPWH "make sense." "I'm pleasantly surprised of what happened (but) I've been in discussion with members of the committee for quite some time, from the time we're preparing the budget," he said in an interview after the hearing. Singson said his priority until 2016 would be to upgrade the country's roads and bridges. "Kasi nakakahiya na talaga tayo if we compare our roads to our neighbors (We should be embarrassed for our roads in comparison with our neighbors)," he said. Singson is not a newbie in handling infrastructure projects, having served as chairman of the government-owned Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) which oversaw projects like the conversion of former military bases in Clark in Pampanga, Subic in Zambales, John Hay in Baguio City, Poro Point in La Union and Fort Bonifacio in Taguig. Among the projects he administered as BCDA chairman was the construction of the controversial Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx), which has a Hacienda Luisita interchange. Farmer groups and other critics of the Cojuangcos accuse the clan of having benefited from the construction of the SCTEx exit within their property. On Tuesday, the CA also recommended the confirmation of Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim and Education Secretary Bro. Armin Luistro. The CA will take up the nominations recommended for confirmation during Wednesday's plenary session. As of posting time, the CA was conducting a hearing on the appointment of Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala. The CA is composed of the Senate president as its head and 12 senators and 12 congressmen as its members. The commission’s duty as mandated by the 1987 Constitution is to confirm appointments made by the President of the Philippines: the heads of the executive departments, ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, or officers of the Amed Forces from the rank of colonel or naval captain, except those of the Ombudsman and Supreme Court justices. The CA discusses and deliberates on nominations at the standing committee level and at the plenary session. Nominations or appointments may end up being confirmed, rejected or bypassed. — Kimberly Jane Tan/RSJ, GMANews.TV