LINGAYEN -- Three Pangasinense Cabinet members have been reappointed to other Cabinet positions.
Anti-smuggling czar Secretary Antonio Villar Jr. was appointed recently in a concurrent position as head of the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB).
Former Health Secretary Francisco Duque III was named chief of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) while former Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Undersecretary Eleazar Quinto was appointed as DENR Secretary.
On Monday, through the Provincial Board, the Pangasinenses congratulated the three for further earning the trust and confidence of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo leading to their appointment to new posts, an honor on only for themselves but also for the province.
On the motion of Board Member Alfonso Bince Jr. and seconded by all the members of the Provincial Board, provincial resolutions 2-2010, 3-2010, and 4-2010 were passed during their regular session.
Provincial Resolution 2-2010 congratulates Villar for his appointment as chairman of DDB, the lead agency in the crusade and battle against the tentacles of dangerous drugs.
“The additional appointment of the Honorable Antonio Villar Jr., an outstanding Pangasinan, is a recognition of his unassailable integrity and competence, already manifested by his numerous success as Presidential Anti-Smuggling (PASG) chief, highlighted by the biggest drug bust worth billions of pesos in the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Freeport in 2008,” the resolution states.
“His commanding role as concurrent PASG Chief and chairman of DDB, two of the most vital offices in government that may make or unmake any administration, has given added honor and pride, not only to the person of Undersecretary Villar Jr. but to the province of Pangasinan as well,” it further stated.
In provincial resolution 3-2010, Duque was acknowledged for being able “to maximize the giving out of medicare and health privileges to qualified indigent beneficiaries in the entire nation. During his stint as DOH Secretary, he was able to display a high level of performance through the delivery, upliftment and improvement of health services programs for the whole country.”
Provincial resolution 4-2010 meanwhile acknowledged the notable programs initiated by then Quinto when he was the Undersecretary for Field Operations.
These includes the dismantling of illegal fishpens resulting to the healthy use of Laguna de Bay and Manila Bay, Manila Bay’s rehabilitation and the filing of cases against Maynilad and Manila Water and legal actions against local executives for failing to enforce the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act.
The Provincial Board chaired by Vice Governor Marlyn Primicias-Agabas also “expressed deep sense of welcome and best wishes to His Eminence Archbishop Socrates Villegas for his assignment to the Lingayen-Dagupan City Archdiocese.” (LCMY/Sunnex)