Marcos names 3 more Cabinet men

PRESIDENT Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has added more names to his Cabinet as he reappointed J. Prospero "Popoy" De Vera 3rd as chairman of the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd), Malacañang announced Saturday.

Press Secretary Rose Beatrix "Trixie" Cruz-Angeles said the President also named Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Alex Quiroz as chairman of the Governance Commission for Government-Owned or Controlled Corporations and former lawmaker Franz Josef George Alvarez as acting president and chief executive officer of the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC).

De Vera has served as CHEd Commissioner since September 2016, and was appointed by former president Rodrigo Duterte as CHEd chairman in October 2018 to serve until July 21, 2022.

Before joining the Duterte administration, de Vera was University of the Philippines Vice President for Public Affairs from 2011 to 2016.

De Vera was the first-ever CHEd commissioner, who had openly supported the Free Tuition Bill pending in Congress in 2016, an election promise of Duterte.

CHEd's biggest mandate is the implementation of Republic Act (RA) 10931, Duterte's most important social justice program – Free Higher Education.

De Vera is a known strong advocate for an increased state subsidy for higher education and has shepherded the formulation of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA 10931 and the fast-tracking of its implementation.

Meanwhile, Quiroz brings with him more than 25 years of experience in the judiciary, beginning as an Metropolitan Trial Court (MeTC) judge then as regional trial court judge.

Prior to his appointment to the anti-graft court, Quiroz was presiding judge of Pasig MeTC Branch 156 and also worked for the Office of the Solicitor General.

Alavarez has served as representative of the first legislative district of Palawan Province.

In the May 2019 election, Alvarez ran under the banner of the National Unity Party without any opponent.

Alvarez, son of former Palawan representative Antonio Alvarez, had voted no to the application of ABS-CBN for broadcasting franchise.

Source: TheManila Times