Noy eyes bread-making with Cabinet execs

MANILA, Philippines – President Aquino will try his hand at baking bread after he relinquishes his task of steering the ship of state to his successor and leaves the presidency today.

“The President will take up bread-making lessons next week. I and other Cabinet members will be joining him. Kim Henares (outgoing internal revenue commissioner) will be joining him,” Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. said yesterday.

He did not say where Aquino and his officials intend to learn how to make bread or what they would do with the bread they make.

Outgoing Health Secretary Janette Garin, meanwhile, said she would take up law as she was still reeling from the battle she went through to get the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health law passed.

In a television interview, Jimenez was also asked about his boss’ love life.

“He is always dating someone. That’s my impression,” he said.

He said Aquino, who in the past has been linked to several women, is secretive about his love affairs.

Jimenez described the presidency as a “lonely job.”

“There are decisions that only the President, by law, can make,” he said.

President-elect Rodrigo Duterte has specifically named Jimenez and Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson as among the better performers in the Aquino Cabinet.

Responding to a question, Jimenez said a Duterte emissary had asked him if he would consider staying on.

“I did not talk to the incoming president directly. I told the emissary that I wanted to go back to the private sector,” he said.

Jimenez suggested that the next administration should carefully plan for the development of future tourist destinations.

He said the government should avoid the Boracay experience by constructing all the necessary facilities and infrastructure like roads, an airport and a sewage system before opening a place to tourists.

He said the Duterte administration should also build on what the Aquino government has achieved in promoting tourism.

“Secretary Singson built or improved national roads leading to tourist destinations. It’s the provincial roads and other smaller roads that have to be rehabilitated,” he added.