Duterte explains reason for appointing Wendel Avisado as acting DBM secretary

President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday explained why he appointed former Davao City administrator Wendel Avisado as acting secretary of the Department of Budget and Management.

“Wala man akong ibang makuha na kumportable ka so siya ‘yung ano,” Duterte said in a speech before newly elected officers of the League of Cities of the Philippines and Liga ng mga Barangay in Malacañang.

Avisado was Davao City administrator from 2004 to 2010 when Duterte was its mayor.

The new acting Budget chief also once served as national president of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines and Presidential Assistant for Yolanda Rehabilitation.

Avisado took his oath before Duterte in Malacañang on Monday.

“Wendel is just a worker. You can go to him. There’s a really need for you to tell. Just tell them. Just tell anybody there, ‘Can I talk to the President?’ Duterte said.

The President said cities and municipalities should have equitable share in the national budget irrespective of political affiliations of their leaders.

“Whatever it is, you will have your share. Lahat, equally ‘yan. Wala akong ano. I am the President of all. I do not choose party ‘yung ganun, wala ako niyan,” Duterte said.

The Department of Budget and Management is finalizing the submission to Congress of the P4.1-trillion proposed national budget for 2020 after Duterte approved the spending plan on Monday.

The deadline to submit the 2020 National Expenditure Plan is 30 days after the President's State of the Nation Address on July 22. — BM, GMA News