Duterte appoints retired general Emmanuel Salamat as MWSS board member

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte appointed a retired Marine general as board member of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System and has transferred the water agency's former chairman to the Judicial and Bar Council. 

Retired Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Salamat has been named MWSS board member while former MWSS Chairman Franklin Demonteverde has been named ad interim JBC board member representing the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, data released by Malacañang Wednesday showed. 

Duterte also reappointed MWSS Vice Chairman and Administrator Reynaldo Velasco as board member of the water agency. 

READ: 'Worst' water shortage hits millions in Manila

Last June, Duterte offered the post of MWSS administrator to Salamat, who was then chief of the Northern Luzon Command. Velasco previously said he would become MWSS chairman because Demonteverde would be moved to JBC. 

Last March, Duterte berated MWSS officials and water concessionaires over the service interruptions in some parts of Metro Manila and Rizal province. He has also threatened to terminate the contracts of the concessionaires if the supply issues are not resolved.

Duterte also appointed Australian businessman Peter Wallace as member of the Ease of Doing Business and Anti-Red Tape Council representing the private sector. 

READ: MWSS fines Manila Water P1.15 billion over water shortage 

Other new appointees are Gonzalo Duque (member of the Philippine Coconut Authority governing board), Antonio Bautista (defense assistant secretary), Lorna Tobias (Bureau of Internal Revenue Director II), Napoloen Arevalo (health director IV), Juliana Sunga (justice undersecretary), Ferdausi Cerna (National Commission on Indigenous Peoples director IV), Manuel Tuason (National Security Council director III), Milagros Javellana (Career Executive Service Board member), Rodrigo Aguilar (trade director III), Loida Linson (interior and local government director IV), Gezel Garcia (public attorney V), Roy Buenafe (labor director III), Marion Sevilla (labor director III), Septon dela Cruz (Commission on Higher Education director III) and Purisimo Tiam (Cagayan Economic Zone Authority board member).