Marcos retains key officials in third recalib phase

President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. has retained several Cabinet secretaries and agency heads in a third phase of his administration's recalibration process.

Among those whose resignations were declined are Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., Education Secretary Juan Edgardo Angara, Health Secretary Ted Herbosa, Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon, Information and Technology Secretary Henry Aguda, and others.

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin announced that the performance evaluations are ongoing and stressed that retained officials will be expected to improve their performance.

The President has also appointed Francis Lim as the incoming chairperson of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), replacing Emilio Aquino whose term ends on June 5, 2025.

Marcos has so far retained his economic team including Trade Secretary Maria Cristina Roque, Finance Secretary Ralph Recto, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, Economic Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, and Special Assistant to the President for Investments and Economic Affairs Frederick Go.