MANILA – The Commission on Appointments (CA) on Wednesday approved the ad interim appointment of former Cavite Governor Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla as secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
CA Majority Floor Leader Luis Raymund “LRay” Villafuerte Jr. moved to recommend the confirmation of Remulla, formally joining his brother, Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla, in the Cabinet of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
Remulla reiterated his plan to streamline the police organization.
“We have 153 generals, and a lot of them are redundant. And I think we’ve had consultations, we’ve been talking to them, and I think we can streamline this down to maybe less than 100 as of current,” Remulla said.
Remulla also said he intends to address some questions on the computation of the internal revenue allotment (IRA).
“I think everyone here who has served in local government sees a great question mark every time an IRA is passed down to a province,” he said.
President Marcos appointed Remulla as DILG chief last October, replacing Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos who will run for senator in the 2025 mid-term polls.
The CA also confirmed the appointment of Marilyn Barua-Yap as the chairperson of the Civil Service Commission (CSC).
Senator Cynthia Villar, chairperson of the CA committee on constitutional commissions and offices, said Barua-Yap’s dedication to public service spanning over three decades was marked with excellence and integrity.
Before her appointment to the CSC, Barua-Yap served as undersecretary for the Special Concerns Office (SCO) and External Affairs and Communications Operations Office (EACOO) of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).
She was also the first woman secretary-general of the House of Representatives during the 14th Congress and continued to serve in the same capacity in the 15th and 16th Congresses. (PNA)