The government on Thursday named the members of the transition team that will hand over the reins to the incoming administration led by presumptive President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, who will lead the turnover team, said President Rodrigo Duterte issued Administrative Order 47 for the creation of the Presidential Transition Committee (PTC).
With Medialdea as chairman, its members include Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, Budget Undersecretary Tina Rose Marie Canda, and Socioeconomic Planning Secretary and National Economic and Development Authority chief Karl Kendrick Chua.
“The PTC will oversee the implementation of the transition activities of the entire government and see to it that delivery of services to the public remains unhampered,” Medialdea said.
Duterte, for his part, said he would call for a meeting with members of the PTC to discuss the impact of the Russia-Ukraine crisis on the Philippines.
“It would be good for us to meet… select members of the committee or maybe all. We should have about one or two meetings because of the fallout in Ukraine,” the President said.
The ongoing war between the two countries would push up international prices of food and fuel, which would hurt consumers and economic growth, according to the World Bank.
Meanwhile, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) also lined up a list of priority programs for endorsement to the transition team of the incoming administration.
Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said the DTI will soon meet with the transitionary group and with his replacement as department head at the DTI.
Of vital importance, Lopez noted, is the continuity of economic reforms and to avoid reversal of policy reforms.
AO 47 also directs all departments, bureaus, and instrumentalities of government to create their own internal transition committees, according to Medialdea.
“We will work closely with the representatives of the incoming administration to ensure a peaceful and orderly transfer of power,” Medialdea said.
Based on an unofficial count, both Marcos Jr. and his running mate, Sara Duterte-Carpio, have huge leads following Monday’s polls, with over 98% of election returns already sent to the Commission on Elections.
Under Administrative Order No. 47, signed by Duterte on May 10, all departments, bureaus, and instrumentalities of government are directed to create their own internal transition committees which will support the PTC in overseeing the proper turnover of projects and continuous operation of their offices during the transition period.
Medialdea said that official talks among members of the PTC will be put on hold until the next president is officially declared.
“Since we still have no proclaimed winner, official talks need to be put on hold for the moment, but preparation on our end needs to begin. We, after all, have more work to do,” he added.
“We assure the public that within the coming weeks, the entire executive branch will continue to perform and dispense with its duties but ready to turn over the reins to the next president,” he said.
Lopez added the new leadership should ensure full economic recovery with strict compliance to safe reopening and adherence to the minimum public health standards that include wearing of masks, ample ventilation in public places and vaccination, especially booster shots.
Lopez also advised the incoming department secretary to be vigilant of the COVID-19 pandemic and ensure that all areas in the Philippines will stay at Alert Level 1.
Another priority policy is the drafting and finalization of the Strategic Investment Priorities Plan (SIPP) which is crucial to attracting more investments into the country.
More funding for modern and advanced production systems support is also encouraged to build-up local production capacities and to reduce imports in all agro-industrial services, for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to level up, as well as industry support through machines, equipment and skills training.
The DTI should also continue to enforce the Buy Local Policy for specific government procurement and to further improve e-commerce and the development of digital finance in trade, he said.
Adding to the proposed list of priority policies are policies on ease of doing business (EODB), e-government, and streamlining and automation of all government transactions.
Lastly, Lopez will also suggest the creation of an intelligence fund to strengthen campaigns against smugglers, profiteers, hoarders and e-commerce scammers
