Marcos names MIAA’s new acting chief

FILE: The Secretary’s son, Atty. Jose Arturo “Jay Art” Tugade, receiving an award on behalf of Secretary Arthur P. Tugade. (Photo: Department of Transportation – Philippines/Facebook)

MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos has named lawyer Jose Arturo Tugade as acting head of the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), Malacañang announced Wednesday.

Undersecretary Cheloy Garafil, officer in charge of the Office of the Press Secretary, confirmed Tugade’s appointment as acting general manager and chief executive officer of MIAA.

Tugade replaces MIAA’s acting head Cesar Chiong.

He will also serve as a member of the MIAA’s Board of Directors.

Tugade is the son of former transportation secretary Arthur Tugade who served under the Duterte administration.

Malacañang has yet to release Tugade’s appointment paper.

‘Special’ role of ex-PNP chief

Meanwhile, Marcos defended his move to appoint retired Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Camilo Cascolan as undersecretary of the Department of Health (DOH).

This was after Cascolan’s appointment as a DOH official earned criticisms.

On the sidelines of an event at the Manila Hotel, Marcos explained that Cascolan, serving as health undersecretary for “special concerns”, will “look at the functions of the DOH.”

“Of course, he (Cascolan) is not a doctor and it’s not health issues that he has to look at, that’s why he doesn’t have to be a doctor. He’s going to look at the functions of the DOH,” Marcos told reporters.

“We talk about rightsizing. We talk about structural changes. ‘Yun (That’s it). We need somebody to examine what has been going on, ano ‘yung maganda, ano ang hindi maganda, ano ang pwedeng mas maayos (what is good, what is bad, and what needs to be fixed). That will be his function, kaya (as undersecretary for) special concerns,” he added.

Quizzed if Cascolan is also tasked to trace “possible syndicates in DOH,” Marcos said, “That’s part of his work. Kung may lumabas na ganyan (If there’s a report like that), he’ll have to report it to us, then we’ll have to do something about it. But generally, it is an administrative audit, if you want to call it that.”

Paul Soriano as adviser for creative comms

Marcos also clarified the role of filmmaker Paul Soriano as Presidential Adviser for Creative Communications.

He said he tapped Soriano to help his administration promote the country’s creative industry.

“‘Yung kay (On the appointment of) Paul Soriano, people have misunderstood. He’s not there to be part of the PR machine. He’s there to find ways to promote the creative industry kasi doon siya galing (because he’s part of it),” he said.

Marcos expressed confidence that Soriano could help the government open more opportunities for workers in the creative industry.

“Pinagmamalaki natin, ang gagaling kumanta ng Pilipino, magaling umarte, ang gagaling gumawa ng sine (We are proud of Filipinos who are good at singing, acting, and making films). We have to project that to the rest of the world. ‘Yan ang trabaho ni Paul (That’s is Paul’s job). I hope that clarifies that,” he said.