Incoming, outgoing Cabinet members may hold transition meeting

Cabinet members of the incoming and outgoing administrations may hold a joint meeting to ensure the smooth transition of power by June 30. Social Welfare Secretary Celia Yangco disclosed on Friday that Malacañang is planning to hold the meeting, which could be presided by both outgoing President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and president-apparent Benigno Simeon “Noynoy" Aquino III. The joint meeting aims to encourage “very good transition and rapport", as well as promote “unity and the sense of healing and togetherness" among incoming and outgoing officials, she said. It was Arroyo herself who initiated actions to ensure a seamless transition from her government to the next, she said. The proposal may not push through if Aquino refuses to participate, she said. “It would depend on how the incoming administration will welcome this," she explained. She thus called on officials to set aside partisanship, adding that the only difference would only be the existence of new management. “The joint Cabinet meeting is also very good demonstration to the people that leadership is a healing and uniting leadership. Therefore, misunderstandings in the past should be set aside and we should focus on what we should be doing, which is attending to the needs of the people," she said. The best scenario, according to Yangco, would be that the outgoing administration will present a report on what it has achieved, while the new administration will study the report to look at aspects where it could rebuild or improve on. - RJAB Jr., GMANews.TV