President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed lawyer Teofilo Estrada Guadiz III as the new Chairman of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) under the Department of Transportation (DOTr), Malacanang announced Wednesday.
This developed as the Commission on Appointments (CA) on Wednesday finally confirmed the ad interim appointment of Socio-economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, two Commission on Elections commissioners, six Department of Foreign Affairs officials and 54 senior military officers.
Guadiz took his oath of office under Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin at Malacañang Palace. The former Land Transportation Office (LTO) Region 1 director replaces Martin Delgra III, who was appointed during the Duterte Administration.
Guadiz will now be at the helm of the agency tasked to regulate the transportation franchises of all land vehicles taking passengers to their points of destination.
He previously held key positions in the Transportation Department, such as at the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) and the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA).
Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista also moved him as the DOTr Assistant Secretary for the Road Sector when he was replaced by Jose Arturo Tugade, son of Bautista’s predecessor Art Tugade, as the LTO Chief.
He also spearheaded the fight on the numerous controversies circled LTO during his time at the office as its chairman, such as the slow processing of various transactions and the millions of backlogged license plates.
Guadiz also tried to clear the many cases of corruption on LTO’s roster of employees.
After being bypassed in September, the nomination of Balisacan, alongside that of DoTr’s Bautista and Human Settlements and Urban Development Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar, were finally approved by the bicameral body.
In less than an hour of deliberation, Acuzar’s nomination was confirmed by the CA panel, headed by Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito—the fastest confirmation by the 19th Congress.
“I am deeply humbled and grateful to all the members of the Commission on Appointments for trusting me to lead the housing sector,” Acuzar said.
Comelec Commissioners Nelson Java Celis and Ernest Ferdinand Maceda Jr. also secured the approval of the commission. They will sit as poll commissioners until February 2, 2029.
The following foreign affairs executives were also approved by the CA:
- Irene Susan Natividad: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Federal Republic of Germany
- Bernard Faustino Dy: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Swiss Confederation, with concurrent jurisdiction over the Principality of Liechtenstein
- Lemuel Lopez: Foreign Service Officer, Class II
- Elizabeth Ramos: Foreign Service Officer, Class II
- Catherine Alpay: Foreign Service Officer, Class II
- Nadine Rosario Morales: Foreign Service Officer, Class II
- Further, the commission has also approved the promotions of the following military officers:
- Dionido Napalang to the rank of colonel, Medical Corps
- Christopher Ciubal to the rank of colonel, Judge Advocate General Service
- Harley Flores to the rank of colonel, Chaplain Service
- Leo Balanlay to the rank of colonel, Chaplain Service
- Arnel Ulay to the rank of colonel, Philippine Navy-Marines
- Gerald Monfort to the rank of colonel, Philippine Army
- Achilles dela Cruz to the rank of colonel, Philippine Army
- Julius Librada to the rank of colonel, Philippine Army
- Herbert Dilag to the rank of colonel, Philippine Army
- Nereo Julius Ramirez to the rank of colonel, Medical Administrative Corps
- Tim Kenneth Bansig to the rank of colonel, Judge Advocate General Service
- Rommel Bognalbal to the rank of colonel, Philippine Navy-Marines
- Arnold Barcelon to the rank of captain, Philippine Navy
- Caesar Lubaton to the rank of colonel, Philippine Air Force
- Roger Al-Rahim Linzag to the rank of colonel, Medical Administrative Corps
- Thorsten Ajello Bautista to the rank of colonel, Philippine Air Force
- Ryan Celino to the rank of colonel, Corps of Professors
- Welmer Base to the rank of captain, Philippine Navy
- Napoleon Agoncillo Jr. to the rank of colonel, Philippine Army
- Rommel Cabanayan to the rank of colonel, Philippine Army
- Calixto Cadano Jr. to the rank of colonel, Philippine Army
- Anthony Sibayan to the rank of captain, Philippine Navy
- Eduardo Castillo to the rank of captain, Philippine Army
- Gregorio Bugarin to the rank of colonel, Philippine Air Force
- Jovencio Gonzales to the rank of Brigadier General
- Marissa Arlene Martinez to the rank of captain, Philippine Navy
- Fatima Claire Navarro to the rank of Brigadier General
- Domingo Chua Jr. to the rank of colonel, Medical Corps
- Juan Nepomuceno Anglo Jr. to the rank of colonel, Medical Administrative Corps
- Audilon Milan to the rank of colonel, Judge Advocate General Service
- Arturo Palma Jr. to the rank of colonel, Philippine Army
- Geoffrey Carandang to the rank of colonel, Philippine Army
- Roberto Beatisula Jr. to the rank of colonel, Philippine Army
- Marlon Hardillo to the rank of colonel, Philippine Air Force
- Alan Espela to the rank of colonel, Philippine Army
- Eric Anthony Camacho to the rank of colonel, Veterinary Corps
- Joel Cabanero to the rank of colonel, Judge Advocate General Service
- Dennis Estrella to the rank brigadier general
- Christine Marie Bayaona to the rank of colonel, Philippine Army
- Marvin Suficiencia to the rank of colonel, Philippine Air Force
- Nomar Alinsangan to the rank of colonel, Philippine Air Force
- Elvira Gonzalez to the rank of captain, Philippine Navy
- Rumel Flojo to the rank of colonel, Philippine Air Force
- Joselito Munar to the rank of colonel, Philippine Air Force
- Alfredo Antonio Jr. to the rank of colonel, Philippine Air Force
- Vedasto Cabales Jr. to the rank of colonel, Philippine Army
- Wilfredo Martin Jr. to the rank of colonel, Philippine Army
- Dominic Tulen to the rank of captain, Philippine Navy
- Maynard Mariano to the rank of colonel, Philippine Air Force
- Bernard Zildo Fernandez to the rank of colonel, Philippine Army
- Noli Ibanez to the rank of captain, Philippine Navy
- Rowen Tolentino to the rank of lieutenant general
- Moises Nayve Jr. to the rank of brigadier general
- Alfrederick Alba to the rank of captain, Philippine Navy.
