CA vows speedy confirmation of Roxas, Abaya

MANILA -- A member of the Commission on Appointments (CA) finds no reason to delay the confirmation of the newly appointed heads of the transportation and communication and local government departments.

President Benigno Aquino III appointed Manuel Roxas II to replace the late Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo, while Cavite Representative Joseph Emilio Abaya will take the vacated post of Roxas in the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC).

"I don't think there will be opposition as Roxas had already been confirmed as DOTC secretary and Abaya is our colleague," Nueva Ecija Representative Rodolfo Antonino said.

In a press conference in Malacañang on Friday, Aquino asked the CA to act on the nominations of both Roxas and Abaya.

The CA was earlier criticized for bypassing the appointment of Robredo.

But Senator Franklin Drilon, a member of the CA, vowed to support the appointments of Roxas and Abaya.

"We in the Committee on Appointments assure immediate facilitation of their appointments," he said.

Robredo, along with two pilots, died in a plane crash in the waters off Masbate City last August 18.

Meanwhile, Negros Oriental Representative Jocelyn Limkaichong will replace Abaya as the chairman of the House committee on appropriations.

The House committee on appropriations tackles the proposed national budget of the Executive. For 2013, the Department of Budget and Management is proposing a P2.006-trillion budget.

Committee deliberations on the budget are set until next week with the DILG scheduled last on Tuesday.

House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. hopes Abaya will not take his oath of office as DOTC secretary until the budget is approved on second reading at the plenary.

"Once he takes his oath of office, he is automatically resigned…But I hope he stays until it's (budget) passed on second reading. It's still up to the President," Belmonte said in a text message.

Abaya earlier said that the House of Representatives will vote on second reading on the budget bill by September 20. The third reading vote will be on October 15. (Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)