The transition committee of President Benigno Aquino III met on Friday to ensure the smooth transition to the administration of incoming President Rodrigo Duterte, Malacañang said.
In its first meeting, the Presidential Transition Committee (PTC) focused on ensuring that the transition reports of all departments, agencies, bureaus, government-owned and-controlled corporations and other instrumentalities under the Executive Branch are submitted and consolidated by end-May, said Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. in a statement.
This will give the incoming administration ample time to review these reports before assuming office, Coloma said.
The meeting was held at 2:00 p.m. Friday at the Office of the President in Malacañang. Aquino was not present in the meeting, he said.
As directed by committee head Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr., the most senior career official will be designated as agency focal person for the whole duration of the transition process leading to the inauguration of the incoming president on June 30, 2016, Coloma said.
According to Ochoa, the PTC is prepared to work with, and meet with the transition team of the incoming president. However, the meeting with Duterte’s transition team has not been scheduled yet.
“This committee involves solely officials of the Aquino administration. No meeting has been scheduled with the transition team of Mayor Duterte,” Coloma added.
Meanwhile, Aquino signed on Thursday Administrative Order No. 49, or the “Creation of a Presidential Transition Committee and Other Agency Transition Committees.”
In AO 49, Aquino said “in order to have a smooth transition, the outgoing administration must ensure that the new administration is assisted by an orderly government that is ready to continue to serve the Filipino people.”
He also said, “there is a need for transition committees to work closely with the representatives of the president-elect in order to ensure a peaceful, orderly and effective transition on 30 June 2016.”
The Presidential Transition Committee (PTC) will be composed of the following: the executive secretary as chairperson and the following members: the Director-General of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA); the Secretary of Budget and Management; the Secretary of Finance; the Secretary of Foreign Affairs; the Secretary of Public Works and Highways and the Secretary of the Presidential Communications Operations Office.
The Presidential Management Staff shall provide secretariat support to the PTC.
“The PTC shall serve as the overall and central coordination committee of all executive departments, agencies, bureaus, government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs), and other instrumentalities (Government Agencies) as regards the various aspects of the transition to the new Administration. It shall oversee the preparation and implementation of the Government Agencies’ transition to the new Administration, in order to ensure the continuity and maintain the efficiency of government services,” the order said.
“All Government Agencies shall establish their respective ATCs (Agency Transition Committees), which shall be chaired by the Secretary or Head of Agency, vice-chaired by a Senior Undersecretary or Deputy Head of Agency, and shall have senior career officials as members,” said the AO 49.
Aquino said the Order that was signed was signed on May 12, 2016shall also take effect immediately.
Aquino earlier confirmed calling up Duterte’s executive assistant, Bong Go, informing them that an administrative order is being drafted to effect the “smoothest transition possible.”
Go is part of Duterte’s transition panel.The other members are Peter Laviña, Duterte’s spokesperson, campaign manager Leoncio Evasco, campaign finance committee head Carlos G. Dominguez, and lawyers Salvador Medialdea and Loreto Ata.
“I further offered that the Cabinet stands ready to brief his team on any and all of their concerns. Lastly, we are committed to effecting the smoothest transition possible,” Aquino said.