‘Non-certification of runoff results hampering transition committees’ movement’

Former representative Juan I. “Liling” Reyes, overall chairman of the transition and inauguration committees, answers questions from reporters during a press conference at the committees’ headquarters in Susupe yesterday morning. Also in the photo to Reyes left is former House of Representatives speaker Oscar M. Babauta, who is vice chairman for the Inauguration Subcommittee, and former representative Claudio K. Norita, vice chairman of the Transition Subcommittee. (FERDIE DE LA TORRE)

Former representative Juan I. “Liling” Reyes, who is the overall chairman of the transition and inauguration committees, said yesterday that the Commonwealth Election Commission board’s non-certification of the runoff gubernatorial race results has been hampering their movement.

In a news briefing at the transition committees’ headquarters in Susupe, former House of Representatives speaker Oscar M. Babauta, who is vice chairman of the Inauguration Subcommittee, disclosed that they are looking the front of the Pedro P. Tenorio Multi-Purpose Center in Susupe as the inauguration site on Jan. 9, 2023, and that the estimated budget for the inauguration activities is from $200,000 to $240,000.

Former representative Claudio K. Norita, who is vice chairman of the Transition Subcommittee, stated at the press briefing that his transition team’s job is to give a picture of the departments’ conditions prior to the inauguration of governor-elect Arnold I. Palacios and lieutenant-governor-elect David M. Apatang.

“The transition’s job is not to look for candidate or possible candidates for Cabinet [members],” Norita said.

Reyes said they are hoping that the CEC board will certify the runoff election results this week because the transition committees cannot move because of the legal aspect of the transition.

Reyes said they, however, have been doing the legwork required to move as soon as the CEC certification is completed.

The CEC board has yet to certify the runoff election results due to some challenged absentee votes. CEC executive director Kayla S. Igitol said yesterday that the CEC board will meet this Thursday.

With the limited time between now and Inauguration Day, Reyes said, there’s going to be a lot of hard work ahead of them. He is optimistic, though, that with all the professional people that are helping them, the timeline will be met.

Norita said the delay in the certification of election results is creating a time constraint. “We have to work this morning, we’re meeting those [on] the list to start to adjust to the timeline,” Norita said.

Originally, under the timeline for the team that is overseeing the transition at the department levels, the draft report must be in Dec. 16 and the final report must be in by Dec. 20 so that Palacios and Apatang can have a snapshot of what they’re expecting in their administration from each department.

Norita said for the persons that are leading the teams, they gave them a lot of discretion in going out and recruiting people for the teams to help them facilitate and accelerate the transition.

“So the biggest question since yesterday for the team members and team leaders, it looks like our timeline might be affected and we are aware of that. And hopefully we can stay within the timeline. But hopefully by next meeting, we will adjust that timeline,” he said.

Norita said their instructions to the teams are very specific—they don’t recommend as to who will lead specific departments or agencies.

With respect to funding for the inauguration activities, Babauta said that, as in the past, inauguration activities were traditionally government-funded.

Babauta said that Palacios and Apatang have informed them that Gov. Ralph DLG Torres has committed to assist in every way possible.

He said they are looking at probably $200,000 to $240,000 and that they have already prepared a budget for that.

Babauta said their chairman, Reyes, will be presenting that to Torres in line with the inauguration expenses.

He said they are hoping that private corporations can help facilitate in making the inauguration a success for people.

“And we welcome those gestures,” Babauta said.

Regarding the multi-purpose center area as the inauguration site, Babauta said Palacios and Apatang selected the site as they are adamant about having it at least in the center of the island and populated areas.

“We are doing our best on how best to facilitate that and take extra precautionary measures in terms of traffic, security, and the like,” he said.

Babauta said they have studied site and found it feasible.