President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has reappointed Manuel Antonio Teehankee Jr. as the Philippines’ representative to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva, Switzerland, Malacañang confirmed Tuesday afternoon.
The Palace also released the names during a press briefing held by Malacañan Press Briefer Ms. Daphne Oseña-Paez, of the newly appointed officials for the Departments of Agriculture (DA), Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Labor and Employment (DOLE), and Trade and Industry (DTI), as well as the National Security Council (NSC).
Teehankee was first named to the post by the Chief Executive in July last year. The Commission on Appointments (CA), however, deferred deliberations on his nomination last December pending his submission of the “Understanding on Agreed Procedures” that the Philippines and Thailand had signed to settle the trade dispute between the two countries.
The dispute was filed by the Philippines in 2008 on Thailand’s Custom valuation of Philippine cigarette exports.
Teehankee noted that trade agencies of the Philippines and Thailand have “decided to establish the dialogue mechanism” that “resulted in some positive results” although the issue is “not yet fully resolved”.
It was not disclosed if the official had forwarded the document asked for by the CA.
Meanwhile, the other appointees are: Andrew Rodolfo Orais, Director IV and Jose Elumba, Director III of the Department of Agriculture (DA), Frederick Amores, Director IV, Department of Information And Communications Technology (DICT), Sitti Rama Alawi, Reynaldo Sy, and Jocelyn Tendenilla as Director III of the DICT.
Also, Mr. Kenneth Chua, Member, representing the employer sector of National Tripartite Industrial Peace Council, Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) and Milagros Ogalinda, Member, representing the labor sector of National Tripartite Industrial Peace Council, DoLE, Ms. Leonilla Baluyut as Assistant Secretary of Department of Trade and Industry.
And lastly, Mr Marlo Guloy and Mr. Benjamin Madrigal as Deputy Director General of the National Security Council (NSC).
