Abaya to stay in House until budget passed on third reading

Rep. Joseph Emilio Abaya. LYN RILLON

MANILA, Philippines — Cavite Representative Joseph Emilio Abaya, the newly appointed Transportation and Communications chief, will remain with the House of Representatives until mid-October to see to it that the proposed P2.006 trillion budget for 2013 hurdles its third and final reading.

He said that while he was told to stay until the bicameral committee would take on House Bill 6455 or the General Appropriations Act of 2013 by the end of November, “on my own evaluation it might be too long–one and a half months.”

“Baka sabihin ng Pangulo ayaw mo yata mag-assume [The president might think, you don’t want it],” he said in jest, adding that he was leaving the decision with the leadership of the House of Representatives.

“But my guess is that I’ll assume office after October 15.”

After getting the nod from the Commission on Appointments, Abaya said that the next step for him was to receive his appointment and take his oath as the new secretary to the Department of Transportation and Communications. “The oath-taking is the final act and that is when I resign from the House,” he said, adding that a date has yet to be set.

The Cavite lawmaker will replace Liberal Party president Manuel “Mar” Roxas who will be assuming the post of chief of the Department of Interior and Local Government. Roxas is taking on the position after the untimely death of the Jesse Robredo.