New NIA chief named

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino has appointed a new National Irrigation Authority (NIA) chief, his third appointment for the post since assuming the presidency in 2010.

Florencio Padernal, 62, replaced Claro Maranan who briefly took over from Antonio Nangel, who got a dressing down in public from the President in 2013.

Padernal will serve under food security czar Secretary Francis Pangilinan. His term ends on June 30 next year.

Padernal, a civil engineer, had worked as consultant and chief technical advisor to the World Bank from 1990 to 1993.

He began his career in government as chief civil engineer of the Department of Public Works and Highways from 1979 to 1982.

He earned his civil engineering degree from Adamson University in 1972, his masters in public administration at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila in 1977 and his doctorate in public administration at the Centro Escolar University in 1981.

President Aquino has also appointed former Quezon City councilor Ariel Inton as new member of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, which is under the Department of Transportation and Communications.

Inton’s position will be coterminous with Aquino’s. Inton was city councilor from 2001 to 2010.

The 50-year-old former councilor takes over the post vacated by Al Parreño, who has been appointed commissioner of the Commission on Elections.

Inton served as councilor when now Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. was still the city mayor, and Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. was still the city administrator.

Other new appointees were Sofia Barcena and Sheila Rafanan, both Register of Deeds III of the Land Registration Authority under the Department of Justice. Another appointee, Samrollah Dekire, was named Register of Deeds II.

Named as new members of the People’s Survival Fund Board under the Climate Change Commission were Peter Angelo Perfecto and Rex Victor Cruz.

Perfecto will represent the business sector and Cruz the scientific community and academe.

Fernando Zulueta has been named to the board of directors of the Philippine National Oil Co. (PNOC)’s Alternative Fuel Corp. 

Lynette May Deloria-Manarang has been designated director of the Public-Private Partnership Center of the Philippines under the National Economic and Development Authority. Alexander Gonzales has been named director IV of the Department of National Defense.