By Liza Soriano
MANILA — Following his bypass in September by the Commission on Appointments (CA), Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa has successfully secured approval from the influential commission.
During the Committee on Health hearing within the CA, Majority Leader Congressman Luis Raymond Villafuerte proposed a motion for the committee to endorse the ad interim appointment of Herbosa, which received unanimous approval from the members.
It is noteworthy that this marks Herbosa’s second appearance before the panel, as he was previously bypassed in September due to the extensive questioning by lawmakers and time constraints during the session break.
Promptly after being bypassed by the CA, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. reappointed Herbosa.
Prior to granting approval for the Secretary’s ad interim appointment, lawmakers posed several inquiries, notably addressing the low utilization of DOH funds in the year 2022.
Ultimately, senators and congressmen declared their “manifestation of support” for Herbosa.
(ai/mnm)
By Junex Doronio
LOOKS LIKE PRESIDENTIAL BUDDY Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. will have rough sailing for his confirmation hearing as opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros has expressed her firm resolve to grill fishing magnate-turned-Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. on the veracity of “murmurs of conflict of interest.”
Hontiveros pointed out that the government’s policies on food security under the DA “should not be compromised for corporate and oligarchic interests.”
The democratic socialist lawmaker who will be the likely opposition standard bearer in 2028 stated on Friday, November 3, after President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. announced Laurel’s appointment as the new DA chief.
On the other hand, national democrat House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro said on Friday that the appointment of Laurel Jr. as the new DA Secretary smacks of a political payback since the fishing magnate contributed at least P30 million to the presidential bid of Marcos Jr. in the 2022 elections through the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP).
“We will await Secretary Tiu-Laurel when he goes before the Commission on Appointments, so these issues affecting his capacity to lead the DA can be scrutinized and the concerns of our peasant farmers and fisherfolk discussed,” Hontiveros said.
Laurel is president of Frabelle Fishing Corporation, a seafood production company that was first established in 1966.
On its website, Frabelle owns “a fleet of over 100 vessels and a growing workforce of 5,000.”
It is described as a “go-to source for fresh, frozen, and processed seafood, with a market that extends to Asia, Europe, the Middle East, South Africa, and the United States.”
“Handa akong makinig at makatrabaho kayo,” said Laurel at a press conference on Friday.
“Higit sa lahat, ako’y handang magtrabaho para sa inyo.” Laurel promised the agricultural sector.
Despite her reservations about Laurel’s appointment, Hontiveros has expressed hope that long-standing issues in the agriculture sector will be finally addressed with the assumption of a full-time secretary at the DA’s helm. (ai/mnm)