Panga still PEZA OIC but Trade Usec Aldaba named supervising secretary

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  • Trade undersecretary Rafaelita Aldaba has been appointed supervising secretary of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA)
  • Deputy director general for policy and planning Tereso Panga remains officer-in-charge (OIC) of the investment promotions agency
  • Aldaba’s designation as supervising secretary comes after another DO, No. 22-115, was issued on December 14 naming her as the new OIC of PEZA
  • The DO was recalled on the same day without an explanation

Tereso Panga, Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) deputy director general for policy and planning, remains as officer-in-charge while Trade undersecretary Rafaelita Aldaba has been appointed supervising secretary of the investment promotions agency.

Aldaba’s appointment was made through Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Department Order (DO) No. 22-116 signed by Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual on December 14. Her designation as supervising secretary comes after another DO, No. 22-115, was issued also on December 14 naming her as the new OIC of PEZA. DO No. 22-115 was recalled a few hours later. No explanation was provided.

PEZA is an attached agency of DTI.

Aldaba’s appointment as supervising secretary is for purposes of policy and program coordination, according to DO No. 22-116.

PEZA OIC deputy director for administration and finance Aleem Siddiqui Guiapal said Aldaba’s appointment will not result in a power struggle at PEZA as the OIC director general’s function is management level, including day-to-day business of the agency, while Aldaba’s function is supervisory and non-management.

Panga has been OIC of PEZA since July by virtue of Office of the President Memorandum Circular (MC) Nos. 1 and 3, and as affirmed by DTI DO No. 2022-68.

He will hold the post until December 31, 2022 or until a new director general has been appointed or designated, whichever comes first.

Panga, the next senior most official of PEZA, took over as OIC following the issuance on June 30 of MC No. 1, which declared as vacant all government posts held by Presidential appointees whose appointment are considered co-terminus with former President Rodrigo Duterte.

In August, DTI affirmed the appointment of Panga as OIC despite claims of former director general Charito Plaza that she was still legally in charge.

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