Palace bares more appointments

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—President Benigno Aquino III has appointed two new undersecretaries and several other ranking officials in various agencies of government.

The President appointed Undersecretary Angelita Gregorio-Medel of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and Undersecretary Catherine Jennifer Francis P. Gonzales of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC).

Mr. Aquino also named several directors for DOTC, Department of National Defense (DND), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

All these appointment papers were signed on Dec. 21, 2012, but this was public only Friday by deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte.

The new directors are Maria Karen S. Olidan (Director III) of DOTC, replacing Jaime Raphael C. Feliciano; Dinna Anna Lee Cartujano (Acting Director III) of DND, replacing Iluminada Afuang; Edilberto Tayao (Acting Director IV of DPWH), replacing Sinaolan Macarambon; and SEC Assistant Director Ferdinand Sales as acting Director, replacing Benito Cataran.

The President also renewed the appointment of Isidro Antonio Asper as member of the Tesda board, representing the labor sector. Asper, vice president for external affairs of the Federation of Free Workers, has been with Tesda board since 1995.