The President disclosed his plans for the former senator as well as imminent changes in his Cabinet this year after hosting the traditional New Year’s toast for diplomats, senior government officials, and business leaders in Malacañang.

“I will be tapping his expertise in so many aspects. He might be one of the ‘chief troubleshooters’ if there is something that needs more intense attention. I might ask him to do that if he is willing,” the President when asked if he plans to appoint Roxas to any government position this year.

The President said details of Roxas’ new assignment will still be threshed out, but he made clear his friend’s appointment “will take effect on June 30, end of the ban.”

He was referring to a one-year ban imposed by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on appointing defeated candidates in the previous elections.

At present, Roxas, Aquino’s running mate in the last elections, has no official assignment under the administration, but is deemed a senior adviser of the President.

As his government sets sights on improving the domestic economy and improving public services this year, the President also confirmed that one or two Cabinet members will be replaced this year.

President Aquino said he is already talking to some people and will announce “very, very minor” changes in the Cabinet soon. He, however, declined to name the Cabinet members who will be removed from their posts.

Also involved in the revamp are two or three officials on the sub-Cabinet level or those occupying positions of undersecretaries and assistant secretaries, the President said.

So far, two Cabinet members remain in an acting capacity, namely: Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo and Environment Secretary Ramon Paje.

Last November, the President said Robredo, former mayor of Naga City, could lead an office that would coordinate the government’s program involving the welfare of informal settlers.

But he later clarified that there is no plan yet to transfer Robredo to another government post.

Meanwhile, President Aquino is scheduled to convene his Cabinet members on Monday, Jan. 10, to remind them about their deadlines on certain government priorities, including finalizing a list of priority bills for the year.

The first Cabinet meeting of the New Year will also include discussions on the implementation of the cash subsidy program for the poor households, the President said.

“We have many things to talk about. We will follow up so many items that are pending with them. Towards end of last year, there was a conference to implement all the directions I have given them. The idea of coordination among departments is also part and parcel of it,” the President said in a press conference in the Palace.

“But the main agenda (of the Cabinet meeting) is an affirmation of deadlines that everybody has beengiven on the priorities that we need. I assume one of the topics that might have a bit of discussion is the cash transfer program,” he added.

President Aquino said he is actually opposed to calling for frequent full Cabinet meetings because it was not efficient. He prefers to meet his Cabinet secretaries in clusters related to economy, security, and social services.

“As a general rule, we don’t hold Cabinet meetings for the entire Cabinet in one sitting because I really feel it is such a waste of their time,” he said.

“If there is a matter that's totally unrelated to their concerns yet they are made to sit the whole day waiting for their turn. Whereas they could have been attending to the concerns of their department if they are in their offices,” he added.

But the President said in the upcoming Cabinet meeting next week, he would explain the “clustering system on how we will govern this country.”

The President meantime has ordered his Cabinet members to consolidate the priority bills that will be presented to the upcoming meeting Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC), the first under the Aquino administration.

He said the Cabinet secretaries have their respective lists of bills that they want Congress to approve.

“Maybe by the third week, we can come up with a list, not a wish list. But if you’re asking to prioritize so many bills, in effect, you are not prioritizing any. So we are consolidating and prioritizing which ones we should really be pushing at this point in time,” he said.

Asked if the reproductive health bill is part of the priority legislations of his administration, the President said: “We are not tackling the RH. We are still engaged in dialogues with various stakeholders.”

The President added that he has not changed his position on responsible family planning. He has drawn criticisms from some Catholic bishops for his pro-choice position on planning a family.

Geanlyn Kabiling, Manila Bulletin