Palace defends Lacson appointment as rehab czar

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The Executive Department defended on Monday the appointment of former senator Panfilo Lacson as reconstruction czar, stressing he is qualified for the job.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda in a statement said that the main goal of the appointment was to bring back the affected areas of super typhoon Yolanda back to normal.

“I think the whole drive towards reconstruction is to bring back the affected areas on its feet.” Lacierda said. “There’s no issue, there’s no politics here.”

“I think this is something that we look forward to in helping the affected citizens in those affected areas,” Lacierda added.

According to Lacierda, they need someone to oversee the reconstruction efforts “fulltime.”

“Given his national stature…and given that he’s also a senator he knows how to deal with all the different building blocks for reconstruction efforts.”

Despite Lacson’s appointment on Sunday, Lacierda said that there are no major changes in the functions of the Cabinet in rehabilitation work.

The government agencies that are part of the rebuilding efforts still have the same roles as before Lacson became reconstruction czar.

“There’s no change in the situation,” Lacierda said. “In fact, the reason why we have to have a rehabilitation czar, [is to enable] the Cabinet secretaries [to] focus on their mandates.”

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