Why Appointing Benhur Abalos to the DILG Could Be the Administration’s Smartest Move
*Dr. Rodolfo John Ortiz Teope, PhD, EdD, DM
Every President reaches a point in his administration where difficult decisions can no longer be postponed. Habang papalapit ang huling dalawang taon ng isang administrasyon, every Cabinet appointment becomes more critical because there is very little room left for trial and error. Ang focus ay hindi na dapat political accommodation kundi performance, competence, accountability, at legacy.
If the reported Cabinet reshuffle is indeed finalized, I believe this is one of the most well-thought-out decisions of the Marcos administration. Hindi ito simpleng pagpapalitan lamang ng mga pangalan sa Gabinete. It appears to be an attempt to match competence with responsibility—to put the right leaders in the departments where they can perform best. Sa public administration, ang pinakamahalagang prinsipyo ay simple lamang: the right person must lead the right institution.
Among all the reported appointments, one decision stands out the most—the return of Benhur Abalos to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). For me, ito ang pinakamahalagang appointment sa buong reshuffle.
The DILG is far more than a department supervising local governments and the police. Ito ang pangunahing tulay ng national government sa mahigit 1,700 local government units sa buong bansa. Every national policy, whether on peace and order, disaster preparedness, infrastructure, health, education, or economic development, ultimately succeeds or fails at the local level. Kaya ang DILG Secretary must not only be an administrator but also a communicator, consensus-builder, negotiator, crisis manager, at isang lider na marunong makipagtrabaho sa iba’t ibang personalidad at political affiliations.
Benhur Abalos has already demonstrated those qualities. His experience as Mayor of Mandaluyong, MMDA Chairman, and former DILG Secretary gives him a practical understanding of how government works from the grassroots upward. Hindi na niya kailangang mag-adjust nang matagal dahil alam na niya ang sistema, ang kultura ng departamento, at higit sa lahat, ang dynamics ng local governance.
What I admire most about Secretary Abalos is his leadership style. Hindi siya kilala bilang puro politika lamang. He is known for being accessible, collaborative, and action-oriented. Marunong siyang makinig bago magdesisyon at mas pinipili niyang mag-coordinate kaysa magdikta. Those qualities are exactly what the DILG needs, especially during the remaining years of the administration.
More importantly, I believe Secretary Abalos can become one of President Marcos Jr.‘s strongest political governance assets—not in the partisan sense, but in strengthening cooperation between the national government and local governments. Habang papalapit ang 2028 elections, natural lamang na magsisimulang magkaroon ng iba’t ibang political alignments ang mga local officials. Ngunit ang natitirang panahon ng administrasyon ay hindi dapat maubos sa maagang pamumulitika.
Through the DILG, Secretary Abalos has the opportunity to remind governors, mayors, vice mayors, and barangay officials that governance should always come first. Maaari niyang hikayatin ang mga lokal na opisyal na ipagpatuloy ang suporta sa mga programa ng pamahalaan—whether in infrastructure, peace and order, disaster resilience, education, health, livelihood, or investment promotion—regardless of whatever political preferences they may eventually have in 2028.
Hindi naman nangangahulugan ito na mawawala ang kanilang political freedom. Every elected official has every constitutional right to support the candidate of his or her choice when the proper election period arrives. However, before politics takes center stage, there remains an unfinished responsibility to govern. Ang tunay na sukatan ng isang local executive ay hindi kung sino ang kanyang susuportahan sa susunod na halalan, kundi kung paano niya napaglingkuran ang kanyang mga constituents habang siya ay nasa panunungkulan.
If Secretary Abalos succeeds in strengthening the partnership between Malacañang and the local government units, he may become one of the administration’s most valuable Cabinet members. Ang magiging legacy niya ay hindi lamang tungkol sa DILG. It will be about keeping local governments united behind governance rather than divided by premature partisan positioning. Sa tingin ko, iyon ang isa sa pinakamahalagang papel na maaaring gampanan ng isang DILG Secretary sa nalalabing panahon ng administrasyong Marcos.
The other reported appointments are equally encouraging.
Jonvic Remulla appears to be an excellent choice for the DPWH. Ang departamento ngayon ay nangangailangan hindi lamang ng mahusay na administrator kundi ng isang reformer. Following the controversies surrounding infrastructure and flood control projects, public confidence must be restored. Jonvic Remulla has built a reputation for decisive leadership, operational efficiency, and strong coordination with local governments. If he can institutionalize transparency, improve project monitoring, and enforce engineering accountability, maaari niyang maibalik ang kredibilidad ng DPWH bilang tunay na ahensya ng nation-building.
The reported return of Vince Dizon to the DOTr is likewise a practical decision. Transportation is a highly technical department where continuity matters. Hindi puwedeng paulit-ulit na nagsisimula sa umpisa ang bawat bagong Secretary. Vince Dizon has consistently shown that he values execution more than publicity. Ang kailangan ngayon ng DOTr ay completion of ongoing railway systems, airports, seaports, at commuter modernization. His familiarity with these projects gives him an advantage in delivering results immediately.
Meanwhile, Frederick Go appears to be a natural fit for the DTI. Economic growth requires leaders who understand both government and business. Hindi sapat ang puro economic theories lamang. Kailangan ng Secretary na marunong makipag-usap sa investors, entrepreneurs, manufacturers, exporters, at maging sa MSMEs. Frederick Go’s extensive private-sector experience gives him credibility in promoting investments, strengthening industries, and creating a more competitive Philippine economy.
Taken together, these appointments reflect what appears to be a philosophy of governance rather than politics. Mukhang ang batayan ng reshuffle ay competence, experience, at institutional fit kaysa sa political accommodation lamang. Kung ito nga ang direksyon ng administrasyon, then it deserves recognition.
As promising as these appointments are, I sincerely hope this is only the beginning.
The President has less than two years remaining in office. Ito na ang panahon para gumawa ng pinakamahihirap ngunit pinakamahalagang desisyon. I also hope to see new faces in other Cabinet departments, attached agencies, and line bureaus that have consistently failed to meet public expectations. Public office should never become a reward for loyalty alone. Dapat ang sukatan ay performance, integrity, innovation, at measurable results.
Those who have become baggage to the image of the administration—whether because of inefficiency, weak leadership, lack of vision, or recurring controversies—should respectfully make way for a new generation of leaders who can bring fresh ideas, renewed energy, and the courage to implement reforms.
At the end of the day, history will not remember how many Cabinet Secretaries served under a President. Ang maaalala ng kasaysayan ay kung gaano kahusay ang kanilang naging serbisyo sa sambayanang Pilipino.
Sometimes, meaningful reforms do not begin with new laws. Minsan, nagsisimula lamang ito sa isang matapang na desisyon—placing the right person in the right position at the right time.
#DJOT
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