Unlike his immediate predecessor who failed to gain the nod of the Commission on Appointments (CA), newly appointed Secretary Rex Gatchalian of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is expected to breeze through the powerful constitutional panel.
Dasmariñas City Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr. asserted that President Marcos made a great choice in appointing Gatchalian to the DSWD post on account of Gatchalian’s “sterling record” both as a mayor and a lawmaker.”
Barzaga succeeded Erwin Tulfo who was bypassed multiple times by the CA over a question on his citizenship.
“Being a three-time mayor of Valenzuela City, his personal touch in attending to the needs of his constituents will be invaluable as he takes the helm of the DSWD,” Barzaga told reporters.
Barzaga narrated that Gatchalian, who is a graduate of the George Washington University, has been his colleague in the House of Representatives where he was elected thrice.
“So I know his competence and capacity as a public servant and more importantly, I know that he has a heart for the poor.”
Barzaga, chair of the House Committee on Natural Resources, said he believes Gatchalian will succeed as social welfare secretary, “not only because of his credentials but because of his genuine desire to serve the poor and uplift their lives.”
Barzaga also noted that Gatchalian perfectly fits the role because he personally knows and has seen the problems of his poor constituents who were in need of medical assistance, livelihood, and other basic services.
“As a mayor, one of his programs was the Barangay-Based Feeding Program (BBFP), Valenzuela City’s free supply of nutritious ready-to-cook food for malnourished children,” Barzaga recalled.
Deputy Speaker Ralph Recto also lauded Gatchalian’s appointment.
“Gatchalian comes well-prepared for one of the “toughest and thankless” jobs in government, Recto said. “For one, he survived the stress test of being a big city mayor during the pandemic, a position which put him in close contact with the people and their problems,” Recto said.
“As a legislator, Rex is aware of the social causes of poverty which will drive him to focus on its roots, and not just on its symptoms,” he added.
“And if being a DSWD head requires the handling of disasters and managing development, he’s been there and done that,” he said.