DSWD chief Gatchalian secures CA nod

By: Beatrice Pinlac - 2 years ago

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Appointments (CA) on Tuesday confirmed the appointment of Rex Gatchalian as the new Secretary of Social Welfare and Development.

Gatchalian earlier secured the nod of the CA committee on labor, employment, social welfare, and migrant workers, which recommended his confirmation for plenary approval.

“If given the chance to run the department, I’d like to put equal thrust into the development side of the department. Yes, social welfare is very important, but equally as important will be the development programs of the department. Because these development programs are the ones that will break the chain or cycle of poverty,” Gatchalian said in the panel hearing.

CA Majority Leader Camarines Sur 2nd District Representative Luis Ray Villafuerte Jr. told the committee that the body’s contingent from the House of Representatives will no longer ask questions to Gatchalian, who was Valenzuela City 1st District Representative prior to his appointment as DSWD chief.

“The nominee is a colleague in the present Congress. We believe in his competence, integrity, and fitness,” Villafuerte said.

After the announcement of his appointment in January, Gatchalian gave up his seat at the House, where Quezon 1st District Representative Wilfrido Mark Enverga currently sits as the legislative caretaker of Valenzuela’s 1st District.

READ: Choice of lawmaker as DSWD chief lauded

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. appointed Gatchalian after his original bet for the post – broadcaster Erwin Tulfo – was bypassed twice by the CA last year due to questions about his citizenship and libel conviction.

READ: CA bypasses Tulfo, Pascual for 2nd time

Aside from his stint as a House lawmaker, Gatchalian also served three terms as mayor of Valenzuela City.

Gatchalian is the brother of Senator Sherwin Gatchalian and incumbent Valenzuela City Mayor Wes Gatchalian.

je/abc