Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 1) — The House of Representatives will appoint a caretaker for the first district of Valenzuela after the appointment of its congressional representative, Rex Gatchalian, as secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
1st day on the job.
Meeting with the Undersecretaries of DSWD…Hit the Ground Running… pic.twitter.com/YfLdzyFaT0
— Rex (@rex_gatchalian) February 1, 2023
House Speaker Martin Romualdez said this on Wednesday at the sidelines of an event to mark the National Hijab Day at the House.
Romualdez said he would consult with Gatchalian and the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC) about who should be appointed as caretaker.
“Usually when vacancy occurs such as in the case where Cong. Rex Gatchalian has been appointed and has now taken his oath as the Secretary of the DSWD, there is a vacancy so there will be a caretaker for the duration of his absence,” Romualdez said.
“We will decide that with Cong. Gatchalian and usually I also consult the party from which he comes from: NPC,” he added.
Romualdez said the House would issue “at the right time” a declaration of vacancy so the Commission on Elections (Comelec) could call for a special election in Gatchalian’s district to elect a new district representative.
In an interview with CNN Philippines’ News Night later, Gatchalian said he, along with the NPC, has submitted to Romualdez a list of potential nominees.
“I can assure the Valenzuelanos that the district office is running without me. A caretaker will be there soon,” Gatchalian assured constituents.
Gatchalian’s appointment was confirmed by Malacañang on Tuesday — the same day he took his oath of office before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2023/1/31/Rex-Gatchalian-DSWD-Secretary.html
He will replace Erwin Tulfo, whose designation as DSWD chief was bypassed twice by the Commission on Appointments. The president then named Undersecretary Eduardo Punay as officer-in-charge of the agency.
