Disaster czar named

Former Vice Adm. Alexander Pama. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—President Aquino has named a retired Navy chief who once served as former Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro’s chief of staff to head the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, the Department of National Defense said on Sunday.

Former Vice Adm. Alexander Pama replaces Eduardo del Rosario as NDRRMC executive director, making him the third head of the council in the Aquino administration.

A retired Army major general, Del Rosario tendered his resignation on April 24, citing health reasons.

DND spokesman Peter Paul Galvez said Pama will formally take over the NDRRMC in a ceremony at Camp Aguinaldo Monday.

“We view Pama to be very capable with his experience as (former) chief of our Navy. He was also former chief of staff of… Teodoro,” Galvez told reporters.

Prior to his appointment, Pama was an undersecretary in the office of Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr.—Marlon Ramos