CA confirms Avisado as DBM chief

Avisado was confirmed as Department of Budget and Management (DBM) chief after no member of the CA objected to his appointment. (File photo by Department of Budget and Management – Department of Budget and Management – Office Directory, Public Domain)

MANILA – The Commission on Appointments (CA) on Wednesday confirmed the ad interim appointment of Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado.

Avisado was confirmed as Department of Budget and Management (DBM) chief after no member of the CA objected to his appointment.

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, who sponsored the confirmation of the Secretary, said the Surigao-born Avisado was the first DBM chief to submit a detailed report on appropriation, allocations, disbursements, and balances every Cabinet meeting.

He said Avisado was also instrumental in the swift enactment of the 2020 National Budget and Republic Act 11466, or the Salary Standardization Law 5.

“He can competently lead the DBM in the timely passage and disbursement of funds for the public,” Zubiri said.

He also thanked Avisado for providing assistance to the Ministry of Finance and Budget and Management of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (MFBM-BARMM) during the crafting of the first-ever Bangsamoro Expenditure Program.

“I am pleased to know that our brothers and sisters in the Bangsamoro are getting the assistance and support they need from no less than the national government’s top expert on budgetary matters and fiscal management,” Zubiri said.

Senator Francis Tolentino said Avisado is “the best man for the job” while Senator Christopher “Bong” Go said the DBM would be “in good hands” with Avisado at the helm.

Earlier, during the body’s Committee on Budget and Management hearing, Senator Panfilo Lacson told Avisado to continue what he is doing in the DBM, “particularly on the national budget.

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“He (President Rodrigo Duterte) cannot do it without your input and wise counsel. Please continue what you started,” Lacson said.

Avisado was appointed as acting DBM secretary by President Rodrigo Duterte in August 2019.

He replaced Benjamin Diokno who was appointed governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

Prior to being appointed to the DBM, he was a Presidential Assistant for Special Concerns.

Following his stint as Davao City administrator from 2004 to 2010 under then-Mayor Duterte, Avisado was appointed as Deputy Secretary of the Housing and Urban Development Council.