Marcos extends Dizon, Lopez appointments

MANILA, Philippines —  President Marcos has extended the appointments of acting Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon and acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez after their legal mandates expired, Executive Secretary Ralph Recto confirmed yesterday.

Speaking to reporters following the Office of the President’s budget hearing at the Senate, Recto addressed the lapsed appointments of Dizon and Lopez, both of whom have yet to face the Commission on Appointments (CA) since assuming their posts last year.

Recto said all secretaries would be submitted for confirmation hearings before the bicameral CA “at the appropriate time.”

“We will get there, but for now the President extended the appointment of these two Cabinet members,” he added.

The announcement came after a tense Senate budget deliberation last week, when President Marcos’ sister, Sen. Imee Marcos, confronted Dizon over his legal authority to continue leading the Department of Public Works and Highways.

Citing the Administrative Code of 1987, the senator pointed out that temporary designations cannot exceed one year. She noted that Dizon’s appointment from September last year had lapsed by 24 days.