Nograles hopes to contribute to dev’t of regions as new Cabinet Secretary

Karlo Nograles. LYN RILLON

Newly-appointed Cabinet Secretary Sec. Karlo Alexei Nograles on Monday said he hopes to help “bring development to the regions” as he is set to take oath as the newest member of President Rodrigo Duterte’s Cabinet.

READ: Duterte appoints Karlo Nograles as Cabinet Secretary — Palace

“I thank President Duterte for welcoming me to his Cabinet. As a fellow Mindanaoan and kapwa probinsyano, I hope to contribute to government efforts to bring development to the regions through different programs that place an emphasis on providing more economic opportunities outside Metro Manila,” the former Davao 1st District representative said in a statement.

The 42-year-old Nograles, who is poised to take his oath on Monday afternoon, said that though this was his first position in the Executive branch of the government, he hoped that his experience as chair of the House appropriations committee would provide him with the kind of “holistic perspective” needed in his new post.

“This is knowledge and experience I believe I can put to good use in my new position. And with the guidance and input of the senior officials in the Cabinet, like Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and Finance Secretary Sonny Dominguez, I hope to hit the ground running and do whatever I can to help the President,” he said.

As Cabinet Secretary, Nograles will head the Cabinet Secretariat, which under Executive Order (EO) No. 67, is tasked to assist the President “in the establishment of agenda topics for Cabinet deliberation” and “facilitate the discussion of cabinet meetings.”

EO 67 also states that the Cabinet Secretariat “shall serve as the head secretariat of the different Cabinet Cluster secretariats” and shall “participate in the National Economic and Development Authority Board and committee meetings.”

Nograles was serving his third term as the representative of the 1st District of Davao when he was tapped by the President to take over the position previously held by former Cabinet Sec. Leoncio “Jun” Evasco Jr.

Nograles was also included the possible senatorial slate of the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) for the 2019 midterm elections, but he later dropped his plan to run for senator. /je

READ: Nograles drops Senate bid

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