PHILIPPINE NEWS SERVICE — A SECOND wave of Cabinet revamp looms as the ruling party gird for the 2010 elections.
This developed as several in the list of possible senatoriables which have been identified by the ruling Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats and Kabalikat ng Mamamayang Pilipino (Kampi) will come from President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s Cabinet.
So far, 16 Cabinet men and women are in the 33 long list of senatoriables.
These include Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Dangerous Drugs Board chairman Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) chief Ralph Recto, Environment Secretary Lito Atienza, Presidential Management Staff chief Cerge Remonde, presidential adviser on climate change former Sen. Heherson Alvarez, Social Welfare and Development secretary Esperanza Cabral, former Presidential Chief of Staff Mike Defensor, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales, Education Secretary Jesli Lapus, immigration Secretary Marcelo Libanan, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano and Deputy National Security Adviser Chavit Singson.
Durano and Sotto, however, stressed that their priorities for now is their respective responsibilities.
Durano said that he is more keen in pushing Philippine tourism amid the global financial crisis and ensure hitting its target of 5 million tourist arrivals by 2010.
“Ang patuloy na pag-unlad ng turismo ay dagdag trabaho at hanapbuhay sa karamihan,” Durano said in a text message as he said that his inclusion is heartwarming and flattering.
This developed as presidential adviser on political affairs Gabby Claudio is optimistic that the merger of Lakas and Kampi would be realized despite the rift between the two parties.
In a text message to reporters, Claudio said that the ruling party Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) and the Kabalikat ng Mamamayang Pilipino (Kampi) can overcome the differences between certain personalities and political conflicts at the local level.
“These obstacles are transient and not insurmountable,” said Claudio, Lakas senior deputy secretary general, was recently appointed by President Arroyo as chair of the National Unification and Consolidation Committee tasked to pursue the merger.
President Arroyo is Lakas’ incumbent national chairman and Kampi’s founder.
In his message, Claudio also urged both Lakas and Kampi “to rise above parochial politics” and “to look at the bigger picture of national interest.”
Claudio added that the fusion of Lakas and Kampi will give the administration a “most formidable unified organization capable not only of making its national candidates win 2010 but more immediately, help the President in the present challenges of governance, particularly in protecting the people from the impact and dangers of the global economic meltdown.”