The Commission on Appointments (CA) on Wednesday approved the ad interim appointment of Vince Dizon as secretary of the Department of Transportation (DOTr).

Dizon’s confirmation was recommended by Cavite 2nd District Rep. Lani Mercado, who also led the deliberation on his appointment as chairperson of the CA’s transportation panel.

During the deliberations, Dizon was asked about his plans to address the country’s transportation challenges, including the perennial traffic congestion along major highways in Metro Manila.

Dizon, who assumed office in February following the resignation of former Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista due to health reasons, was among the Cabinet officials who submitted courtesy resignations in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive.

The CA also approved the ad interim appointments of Luis Pangulayan and Douglas Mallillin as commissioners of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) and Commission on Audit (COA), respectively.

Pangulayan, who will replace outgoing CSC Commissioner Aileen Lourdes Lizada, will serve until February 2032.

Mallillin will likewise serve as COA commissioner until 2032, replacing Commissioner Roland Pondoc.

In addition, the CA confirmed the ad interim appointments of 84 generals, flag officers, and senior officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Postponed

Meanwhile, the CA postponed the deliberation on the ad interim appointments of Noli Pipo and Maria Norina Tangaro-Casingal as commissioners of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) due to lack of material time.

Duterte Youth Party-list Chairman Ronald Cardema is opposing the confirmation of Pipo and Casingal, who were part of the National Board of Canvassers that signed a resolution suspending the proclamation of the Duterte Youth.

Comelec had suspended the proclamation of Duterte Youth, along with Bagong Henerasyon Party-list — which both won House seats in the recent midterm elections — due to pending petitions filed against them.

The deliberation for the appointments of Pipo and Casingal is scheduled to resume on 10 June.