esident Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo finally finished formally announcing Cabinet changes in her administration, ending months of speculations on who will head government agencies. It was very much a case of something old and something new. Leading the new appointees is Vice President Noli De Castro who is now the new Chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council held formerly by Mike Defensor who was re-assigned as Environment Secretary. The Vice President was also appointed Presidential Adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers and Co-Chairman of the National Anti-Poverty Commission.
As expected, the President was criticized for basing appointments on political considerations. Former Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes who was earlier tapped to replace former Interior and Local Government Secretary Joey Lina is known to be a loyal supporter of the President. Three of her new appointees – Florencio Abad (Department of Education), Raul Gonzales (Department of Justice), and Augusto Syjuco (Technical Education Skills and Development Authority) – were staunch supporters of the President in the 12th Congress. Abad, as well as Norberto Gonzales (Presidential Chief of Staff), are also leaders of political parties Liberal Party and Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas, respectively, known allies of the administration party in the last election. New Tourism Secretary, Joseph Ace Durano, resigned as the Representative of the 5th district of Cebu where the President won by a large margin.

Finance Secretary Juanita Amatong and NEDA Chief Romulo Neri are just two of the eleven Cabinet Secretaries re-appointed by the President to their respective posts

A number of steady performers were replaced. Foreign Affairs Secretary Delia Albert who rose from the ranks as a foreign service diplomat left to take a new assignment abroad. Education Secretary Edilberto de Jesus and Agriculture Secretary Luis Lorenzo Jr. also left the Cabinet.
Most of the new appointees previously held or were holding government positions before they were transferred to new posts. Eleven Cabinet Secretaries were re-appointed by the President to their respective posts. Budget Secretary Emilia Boncodin, Energy Secretary Vincent Perez, Finance Secretary Juanita Amatong, Health Secretary Manuel Dayrit, Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas, Public Works and Highways Secretary Florante Soriquez, Science and Technology Secretary Estrella Albastro, Social Welfare Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman, Trade Secretary Cesar Purisima, Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza, and NEDA Chief Romulo Neri all retained their posts.



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