A wise move
DESPITE the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, Filipinos managed to elect new government officials, including presumptive President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr.
In fact, these thousands of elective national and local government officials are set to assume office at 12 noon on June 30, when outgoing President Duterte also leaves Malacanang.
What’s important, in the view of various quarters, is how the only son and namesake of the late President Ferdinand E. Marcos works out a “package deal” with the political opposition.
In a democratic society, like impoverished Philippines, there is really a need to have constructive but not destructive fiscalizers, who are ready to work with the ruling political party.
And we are heartened to know that the new Chief Executive from Ilocos Norte has tapped the services of a top official of the late President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III.
He is Arsenio Balisacan, who will head the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) in the Marcos Cabinet. Marcos described Balisacan as “an old friend.”
A very competent public servant, Balisacan also headed the powerful NEDA during Aquino’s presidency.
The new President said Balisacan’s return to the agency “would be for the betterment of the country, development of the economy,” which was ravaged by the pandemic.
Of course, we share the view of many, including supporters and critics, that in naming Mr. Balisacan to his official family, the incoming President “acted very wisely.”
Talagang laging nasa isip ni Pangulong Marcos ang kapakanan ng bansa at taumbayan.
