After what political analysts interpreted as a loss for his administration in the recent elections, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced last week that he has ordered all his Cabinet secretaries to submit their courtesy resignations.
The President said he was doing so to “realign government with the people’s expectations.”
Marcos also described his action as a decisive recalibration of his administration. Malacañang said the shakeup halfway through the administration did not single out any official and that government operations would remain unhampered.
The President’s economic team was left untouched.
Executive Sec. Lucas Bersamin – who also retained his post – said that Marcos decided to retain the following members of the Cabinet after careful evaluation:
Trade Sec. Maria Cristina Roque
Finance Sec. Ralph Recto
Development Sec. Arsenio Balisacan
Budget Sec. Amenah Pangandaman
Economic czar Frederick Go
Erstwhile Foreign Sec. Enrique Manalo was reassigned to the Philippine Mission to the United Nations while Undersec. Ma. Theresa Lazaro was promoted to head the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). The country’s current representative to the UN, Antonio Lagdameo, is set to retire on July 31.
Energy Sec. Raphael Lotilla will be the new Environment secretary, replacing Toni Yulo-Loyzaga amid her supposed “underperformance” as department head.
Bersamin said Yulo-Loyzaga is not facing allegations of corruption but mentioned that criticisms of Loyzaga as a “jet-setter” secretary had reached Malacañang several times.
Bersamin said perhaps it was “time for her to have her rest.”
The executive secretary acknowledged that Loyzaga had “underperformed” in her stint as the chief of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
Bersamin hinted that Malacañang could give Loyzaga another Cabinet position “at a future time.”
Meanwhile, Lotilla has served as Energy secretary under the governments of Marcos and former President Gloria Arroyo from 2005 to 2007.
Bersamin cited Lotilla’s legal background to back his “excellent” work.
But his track record on nuclear energy – which he favors along with the president – and fossil fuel is concerning for environmental groups, who are calling for a transition to clean and renewable energy to combat climate change.
Greenpeace Southeast Asia Executive Director Jasper Inventor said: “We challenge Sec. Lotilla to leave behind these old interests, turn a new page under his new mandate, and work to reverse the pro-nuclear and pro-fossil fuel stance of the administration.”
For his part, Power for People Coalition convenor Gerry Arances said: “Sec. Lotilla should brace himself for the highest standard of accountability from fossil fuel-affected communities, consumers, and environmental advocates alike. We would allow no compromise at this time of intensifying climate crisis and ecological degradation.”
Energy Undersec. Sharon Garin will be standing in as the officer-in-charge of the Department of Energy.
Also leaving the Cabinet is Housing Sec. Jerry Acuzar.
Bersamin cited “under delivery” as the reason behind Acuzar’s replacement as chief of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development.
While the executive secretary did acknowledge Acuzar’s efficiency when he was still working in the private sector, Bersamin said the former housing chief must have “set the standard too high for himself.”
The President appointed former Undersec. Jose Ramon “Ping” Aliling as Acuzar’s successor.
Regarding the retention of the entire economic team, Bersamin said, “The President decided to retain these five members of the economic team so that there would be no more problems in the perception about where the country is going,” Bersamin said.
In response, Recto thanked the President for his continued trust.
“More than a vote of confidence, I take this as a marching order to push harder and deliver results faster and thus we will also do our own recalibration within the department,” he said in a statement.
Further action on the Cabinet reshuffle is still expected. It was placed on hold as the President has to attend the 46th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia over the weekend.
