MANILA, Philippines — Familiar faces are back at the Department of Transportation (DOTr).
In a Facebook post on Thursday, February 27, the department said a new set of officials took their oath before transport chief Vince Dizon on February 26 and 27. The announcement comes after Dizon issued an order for incumbent officials to submit courtesy resignations.
Dizon previously told the media that he will be bringing in former officials, recognizing that he has little time to learn the ropes of the department and would need all the help he can get in the last three years of the administration.
Most of the key officials served under Tugade. Here’s the list:
- Giovanni Lopez, undersecretary for administration, finance, and procurement
Lopez replaces Jesus Nathaniel Martin Gonzales. Lopez has served as undersecretary and assistant secretary, and was also former transport secretary Arthur Tugade’s chief of staff.
- Mark Steven Pastor, undersecretary for road transport and infrastructure
Pastor resigned from the same post in April 2023 due to “health reasons.” He was part of the DOTr during Tugade’s term as assistant secretary. Pastor replaces Jesus Ferdinand Ortega.
- Jim Sydiongco, undersecretary for aviation and airports
Sydiongco served as director general of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) during Tugade’s term as DOTr chief. He takes the post previously held by Roberto Lim.
Early in his career, he served as pilot for the Philippine Airlines (PAL) and EVA Airways Corporation. He was also the vice president for flight operations, safety, and quality of Cebu Pacific.
- Ramon Reyes, undersecretary for road transport and non-infrastructure
Based on his LinkedIn account, Reyes had been with Stradcom Corporation for nearly three decades prior to his appointment to the DOTr. Stradcom has managed the aging system of the Land Transportation Office since the late 1990s.
Dioscoro Reyes will be assistant secretary for road transport and non-infrastructure.
- Teodoro Jose Delfin, undersecretary for planning and project development
Prior to his appointment, Delfin was the senior vice president at Lopez-led First Gen Corporation. On Thursday morning, the listed renewable energy firm disclosed to the stock exchange his resignation, which would be “effective immediately, in view of his assignment to a government position.”
Delfin takes the post vacated by Jeremy Regino, who sources said resigned after most railway projects were put to a halt due to a legal opinion from the Department of Justice.
- Raul del Rosario, acting director general and acting member of the board of directors of CAAP
Del Rosario takes the post of Antonio Tamayo. Del Rosario was appointed by former president Rodrigo Duterte as the administrator for the Office of Transportation Security in 2019.
He previously served as the chief of the Western Command and the Central Command. He is credited as the Air Force pilot who discovered China’s occupation of Mischief Reef in 1994.
Meanwhile, Villamor Ventura S. Plan is now assistant secretary for maritime. He is listed among the former deputy administrators of the now defunct Philippine Overseas Employment Administration. – Rappler.com