MBC worries about govt vacancies

President Benigno Aquino 3rd on Friday said that his administration is wary of appointing officials, disclosing that he almost made the mistake of appointing someone to a key law-enforcement position.

Positions in the government that remain vacant were among the concerns raised by Makati Business Club (MBC) Chairman Ramon del Rosario as he presented to President Aquino a report from business leaders and economic managers during a conference in Malacañang.

“Leaving these key posts unfilled over a long period may also convey the impression of a lack of a sense of urgency, when in fact so many issues and problems are crying for immediate attention,” del Rosario warned.

“We almost made a mistake [in] appointing somebody to a key law-enforcement position and, to be honest with you, I’m fortunate to had a rethink of this particular individual because daily I keep on getting reports [that] this individual does not have such stellar record and in fact is the complete opposite of what we want to achieve,” the President said.

Mr. Aquino assured the business leaders that his administration is doing its best to full up those vacant positions in the government.
“We are having successes but getting the right people for all of these jobs is obviously not that easy given that there are very, very few perks and benefits that we can give to them,” he said.

Del Rosario pointed to the need to increase investments to spur economic growth, review the labor code, formulate clear policies in power and mining, address tax evasion and smuggling, promote tourism and mitigate disasters.

Mr. Aquino said that concerned agencies have promised to file cases against suspected smugglers and tax evaders.
According to him, he would ask Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz to review the Labor Code.

The President said that a disaster-mitigation program is in place.

“Our people are now better prepared to meet disasters and all it took was to replace one individual who believed he was God’s gift to the Filipino people,” he added.

The President was referring to Dr. Prisco Nilo, whom he replaced as administrator of Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, Astronomical Services Administration because of Nilo’s “differences” with his immediate superior in the Department of Science and Technology.

During the conference, he announced that would convene the Judicial Executive Legislative Advisory and Consultative Council a week after his first official visit to the United States.

Mr. Aquino will leave for the US on September 20 to attend the United Nations General Assembly and the signing of a $434-million Millennium Challenge Corp. compact grant to the country. –Cris G. Odronia, Reporter, Manila Times