Palace confident of DICT performance under Honasan

FILE: 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 confident about the performance of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) under the helm of its newly confirmed chief, Secretary Gregorio Honasan II.

“We welcome the confirmation of the ad interim appointment of Mr. Gregorio Honasan II as the Secretary of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) by the Commission on Appointments,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo on Wednesday said in a statement.

The former senator was confirmed by the Commission on Appointments, where he was hailed as “extremely qualified” to take the position.

“The Palace is confident that Secretary Honasan would be able to implement the President’s marching order of providing the Filipino people better connectivity through the full rollout of the national fiber optic cable network and operationalization of the country’s new major telecommunications player,” Panelo said.

Honasan was appointed by the chief executive as the DICT head, replacing the agency’s acting secretary, Eliseo Rio Jr.