Salceda named Presidential Legislative Liaison Office chief

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has appointed former Albay governor Joey Salceda as the new secretary of the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO). The appointment fills a post that has been vacant since the resignation of former PLLO chief Adrian Bersamin in November last year. The PLLO works with Congress to promote the President’s priority bills. The appointment marks Salceda’s return to Malacañang, where he worked in 2007 as presidential chief of staff under former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Salceda said he hopes to “serve as a bridge of the President for the wisdom, talent and insight of the private sector, academe and broader civil society.” “The mandate given to me is to reform and transform the PLLO into a genuine policy office of the President. This administration has been uniquely open to the best ideas from the people. I humbly invite the country’s best minds, especially young people, to share with us your time, talents and energies toward this undertaking,” he added. Salceda is a former representative of Albay’s second district and governor of the province. He sought a return as governor of Albay during last year’s elections but lost. The Supreme Court recently asked Salceda to serve as amicus curiae or friend of the court during oral arguments regarding the constitutionality of unprogrammed appropriations in the national budget. This appointment signals the Marcos administration's intent to strengthen its collaboration with the legislative branch and accelerate policy implementation. Salceda's experience and his stated goal of transforming the PLLO into a policy-driven office could be a significant impetus for the administration's legislative agenda.