00:00I was approached as early as August 2022
00:06to be the head of the Presidential Communications Office.
00:12At that time, I was the Undersecretary for Rails.
00:15I was close to my heart because I was the one who defended it,
00:20the NEDA Infracom, NEDA ICC to the NEDA Board,
00:23in both houses of Congress, including in Japan, including Beijing.
00:26The North-South Commuter Railway Project, the subway,
00:29and the other railway projects.
00:33I was just getting started.
00:35So I politely declined.
00:37But as you can see, most of you are still on your own at that time.
00:42Because I really wanted the President to be the champion of infrastructure projects.
00:47These stories will not be his legacy.
00:55This government will judge our President on how many megamoles we should get.
01:00That's our story.
01:01So I was approached as early as August 2022.
01:04I politely declined.
01:05And a few people mentioned to me that I should be organic,
01:11maybe as Assistant Secretary or Executive Assistant.
01:14So they helped me.
01:16I was outside the PCO, the Office of the President.
01:21If I have ideas, I will share them.
01:25And I appreciated that some of my recommendations
01:29became part of national conversations and discussions of national policy.
01:38So I talked to the President.
01:39And likely, our President also talked to me about this work.
01:46Sir, is it true that Secretary Shelley will be appointed to MECO?
01:50That is true.
01:54She will be appointed.
01:56It's a desired letter to the Manila Economic and Cultural Office in Taiwan.
02:01Did she take her vote?
02:04No, because unlike me, I can be appointed at any time.
02:07You know the SEMI, private, EGOCC.
02:15There is a board.
02:16If it's the General Manager of PNR, it has to be appointed by the board.
02:20The Director appointed me.
02:22Then LRTA, PNR, all government-owned and controlled corporations,
02:29the leaders are always elected by the board.
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