Halasan, Baloro appointed to urban poor commission

President  Duterte  SIMEON CELI JR./PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

President Duterte has appointed two new commissioners to the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor after sacking all of its commissioners for its lack of output and the former chair’s frequent travels.

Mr. Duterte named Ramon Magsaysay Awardee Randy Halasan and Davao-based social services officer Norman Baloro PCUP Commissioners on January 16.

They replace Manuel Serra Jr. and Joan Lagunda.

Halasan was a Ramon Magsaysay Awardee for Emergent Leadership in 2014. The school teacher was honored for his efforts to help the students from an indigenous community in a remote Davao City village.

Halasan had worked to get the government to build bridges over the Sinod River and over Davao River to help students and teachers cross the treacherous waters.

Mr. Duterte had fired PCUP chair Terry Ridon and the agency’s four commissioners in December.

He railed against Ridon’s frequent overseas travels and said the PCUP commissioners rarely met even when it was supposed to be a collegial body.

Ridon was the first appointee that Mr. Duterte sacked for numerous overseas trips. He later fired Maritime Industry Authority chief Marcial Amaro for taking 24 foreign trips and vowed to go after other jet-setting officials.