Lorenzana Appointed To BCDA; Sotto’s Daughter Named MTRCB Chief

President Marcos administered on Thursday, July 7, the oaths of another batch of new appointees, including former defense secretary Delfin Lorenzana, who has been named chairman of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA).??

The defense department congratulated Lorenzana on his appointment and expressed optimism that he would steer the BCDA toward a “stronger collaboration” with the military and other stakeholders.?The BCDA is a government-owned and controlled corporation created by law to develop former US military bases and properties.??

Also sworn in was Movie and Television Review and Classification chairperson Diorella Maria Gamboa Sotto-Antonio, former Quezon City councilor and daughter of former Senate president Vicente Sotto III.??

“Thanking the President for the trust and confidence. I believe she will do well given her background. Besides, she has two excellent women former chairpersons to emulate, Sen. Grace Poe and Congresswoman Rachel Arenas,” the former Senate chief said.?

Other officials who were sworn in Malacañang were Transportation Undersecretary Cesar Chavez, Press Undersecretary Emerald Ridao, Press Undersecretary Franz Imperial, Presidential Management Staff Undersecretary Honey Rose Mercado, Social Secretary Bianca Cristina Cardenas Zobel, Press Undersecretary Gerlad Baria and Commission on Audit Chairman Jose Calida.

Malacañang also clarified on Thursday that Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) Chair Liza Diño remains in her post pending the release of the appointment papers of her successor, Tirso Cruz III who took his oath last Tuesday, July 5.

Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said that under Republic Act No. 9167, the FDCP chairman and chief executive officer has a three-year term, unless removed by the President.

“Ms. Diño was reappointed by President Duterte and was serving a second term when President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. exercised his power to remove the current chair and appoint a new one,” Cruz-Angeles said in a statement.?”However, while Mr. Tirso Cruz III’s documents are pending, Ms. Diño remains in a holdover capacity.”

Last Wednesday, July 6, Cruz-Angeles said Diño, whose appointment was previously extended until 2025, was covered by Memorandum Circular No. 1 issued by the Marcos administration.?

Under the circular, all presidential appointees whose appointments are classified as coterminous; those occupying posts created in excess of the authorized staffing pattern; all non-career executive service officials occupying career executive service posts; and contractual or casual employees are deemed separated from the service.

Also, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) has appointed deputy administrator Sonia Malaluan as officer-in-charge of the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA).

Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, through Special Order 2022-128 issued last July 1, designated Malaluan as OIC deputy administrator and concurrent OIC-administrator of the MARINA.

“Ms. Malaluan is directed to perform and discharge the functions and responsibilities as Officer-in-Charge, Administrator of the Maritime Industry Authority until 31 July 2022, or until a replacement has been appointed or designated whichever comes first,” Bautista decreed in DOTr Special Order 128. – With Ralph Edwin Villanueva, Rainier Allan Ronda