Incoming LRTA chief Cesar Chavez. Image from his Facebook account
MANILA, Philippines — After naming former Philippine Airlines president Jaime Bautista as transportation chief, President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. named Thursday three more picks to occupy high-ranking posts in the transport sector.
Marcos has selected former Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) Deputy Administrator Cesar Chavez as Undersecretary for Rails of the Department of Transportation (DOTr), while lawyer Cheloy Garafil, a former journalist, will head the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).
Meanwhile, businessman Christopher “Chet” Pastrana will serve as the general manager of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA).
Chavez previously served as DOTr Undersecretary under President Rodrigo Duterte but resigned in 2017 following a series of technical glitches hitting the Metro Rail Transit 3 (MRT-3).
In 2018, he was appointed by Duterte to the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) Board of Directors. He stayed in the post until 2019.
Chavez also previously served as Assistant General Manager for Planning of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and chairman of the National Youth Commission.
Meanwhile, Garafil formerly served as prosecutor of the Department of Justice and State Solicitor at the Office of the Solicitor General. She currently serves as Service Director at the Committee on Rules of the House of Representatives.
Garafil was also a media practitioner before she passed the bar and entered public service.
On the other hand, Pastrana is the president and chief executive officer of CAPP Industries, a supply and logistics conglomerate.
He is also the chairman of Archipelago Philippines Ferries Corp., which operates FasCat ferries.