Samar representative appointed as new DILG secretary

Newly-appointed DILG Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento (Photo from Sarmiento’s Facebook page)

MANILA – Western Samar Representative Mel Senen Sarmiento, who was also the secretary general of the ruling Liberal Party (LP), confirmed that President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III indeed offered him the highest post of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

“I thank President Aquino for giving me this opportunity to continue the reforms being implemented now… many of which were among those that we usually talked about with the late DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo when we were still city mayors,” Sarmiento said in a statement.

Accepting the position, the newly-appointed DILG Chief will be the replacement of former Interior Secretary and LP standard-bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas II.

“Replacing Secretary Mar Roxas to head a very complex institution like the DILG is definitely a colossal task but with our people’s prayers and support, I am confident I would be able to effectively carry out the mandate of my new assignment,” he said.

Sarmiento assured the Filipino people that he will fulfill his duties and responsibilities with integrity and will not exploit government resources to the advantage of the LP in next year’s presidential elections.

He also vowed to continue the Aquino administration’s ‘daang matuwid’ (straight path) type of governance.

“I am ready to accept any new challenge to be able serve our people better and advance the cause of good governance and daang matuwid,” Sarmiento said