‘Exciting times’ await DICT with Honasan as new chief: Panelo

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte congratulates newly appointed Information and Communications Technology Secretary Gregorio Honasan II during the oath-taking ceremony at the Malacañan Palace on July 1, 2019. KARL NORMAN ALONZO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

MANILA — Malacañang is predicting “exciting times” for the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) under the leadership of newly installed Secretary Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan II.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo made this remark after Honasan, a former senator, took his oath as DICT chief before President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Monday.

After taking oath, Panelo said Honasan was warmly received by other secretaries when he joined the Cabinet meeting on the same day.

Panelo expressed confidence that Honasan would perform his job as DICT Secretary well.

“The Palace welcomes former Senator Gregorio Honasan II as the newest addition to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s Cabinet,” Panelo said in a statement.

“We are confident that Secretary Honasan would perform well in his new assignment as chief of the DICT, which is headed for exciting times as our people expect the full rollout of the national fiber optic cable network and operationalization of the country’s third major telecommunications player,” he added.

According to Panelo, Honasan has “a wealth of experience” not only as a senator for 21 years, but also in the military science, as a military officer for 16 years, and a military renegade for seven years.

Honasan also has a masters degree in management, which Panelo said will help him in his new role in the executive branch.

Panelo also believed that the new DICT chief would continue and improve on the plans and programs of his predecessor, Eliseo Mijares Rio Jr.

He, meanwhile, wished Honasan “all the best” in his stint as DICT chief.

Earlier, the DICT bared that the first phase of the fiber backbone for the National Broadband Plan (NBP) is set to be completed early next year.

The agency is also expecting the country’s third telecommunications player, Mislatel Consortium, to receive its certificate of public convenience and necessity by July 8 to allow the start of its operations.