Eager Beavers

There are movements and there are movements.

It’s a bit toxic at the moment in the political arena, with the old guards prepping-up for a smooth transition to the incoming department heads, though a number are not actually novice to the position.

In an ideal situation and condition, a seamless handover is ultimate. But from what I’ve been hearing and reading, quite a number cannot seem to wait to take the helm.

I have nothing against presumptive vice president Sara Duterte. But her plan to take her oath of office this Sunday, June 19, the birthdate of our National Hero Jose Rizal, leaves a sour taste in my mouth.

Per se, the oath is an important ceremonial gesture that implies the official start of her term in office. It, likewise, means for the official to make a public commitment to the duties, responsibilities and obligations associated with the elected/appointed public position.

It is because the Commission on Elections declared her winner of the May 9 vice presidential race. I am merely saying that based on the 1987 Constitution, the term of office of elected officials – be it president, vice president, house representatives, senators, and leaders of the local government units – only begins on June 30.

This means that up until June 30 Leni Robredo remains the duly elected vice president of the country. In the same token, Berna Romulo-Puyat still is the tourism secretary.

Romulo-Puyat’s case, though, is altogether different from that of the presumptive vice president. She is, on the other hand, too gang-ho on her next job as deputy governor of the Bangko Sentral Pilipinas (BSP) for financial inclusion.

With Romulo-Puyat, BSP has now five deputy governors as allowed by Republic Act 7653 as amended: Francisco G. Dakila, Jr. for monetary and economics sector; Chuchi G. Fonacier for financial supervision sector, whose main responsibility is to regulate banks and other BSP-Supervised Financial Institutions; and Mamerto E. Tangonan for payments and currency management sector.

I’ve no question on the choice of the appointing authority, neither on Romulo-Puyat’s competence as in the past she’s a lecturer at the UP School of Economics.

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Still, for me, it leaves a sour taste, considering the laborious task of professionalizing the staffing pattern undertaken by the 12-year term of BSP Governor Amado Tetangco. It now has become highly politicized.

Prior to her, Eduardo G. Bobier climbed up the ladder. From assistant governor, he was appointed deputy governor for the corporate services sector last March. Such is an appointment.

This goes to show that there’s no dearth in BSP talents. The pool is actually brimming. I can cite assistant governor Edna C. Villa, who is a true blue BSPer.

Romulo-Puyat is eager beaver, so looking forward to her most secured ever government position that the tittle-tattle going around the BSP headquarters along Roxas Blvd. is she has already asked to be briefed on her responsibility.