President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday said he has tapped SMC Tollways CEO Manny Bonoan and former University of the Philippines president Alfredo Pascual to join his administration's Cabinet as chiefs of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), respectively.
"I have asked Fred Pascual to head the DTI and he has agreed," Marcos said at a press conference with selected media outlets.
"I am intending to nominate Manny Bonoan for the Department of Public Works and Highways. I know him very well, I know he will do a good job..." he added.
Once he accepts, Bonoan is set to succeed DPWH Secretary Roger Mercado, who took over the post after Senator-elect Mark Villar announced his senatorial bid last October 2021.
Pascual, meanwhile, will take over the seat of DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez.
In the same briefing, Marcos also named Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Benjamin Diokno as the next Department of Finance (DOF) chief. Diokno will be replaced by Felipe Medalla as the BSP gov.
So far, Marcos has appointed presumptive Vice President Sara Duterte and former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Benhur Abalos to lead the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), respectively.
He has also named Arsenio Balisacan, a former Cabinet member of the Aquino administration, to return as the chief of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA).
Likewise, Marcos also picked Bienvenido Laguesma as the next Labor secretary, Susan Ople as the Migrant Workers Secretary, Cavite 7th District Rep. Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla as justice secretary, and his spokesman Atty. Vic Rodriguez as executive secretary.
On Wednesday, Rodriguez also announced the appointment of lawyer and radio commentator Trixie Cruz-Angeles as the next chief of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO).
