The Palace on Thursday announced the appointment of Vivencio Dizon as the next secretary of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) following the resignation of  Jaime Bautista due to health reasons.

In a statement, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said the appointment of Dizon will take effect on February 21.

“He is already authorized by the Office of the President to start the transition at the DOTr in coordination with the team of Secretary Jaime Bautista, who has resigned due to health reasons,” he said.

The DOTr oversees most of the big ticket items, some of which are funded through Official Development Assistance from Japan and multi-lateral funding institutions.

These are the subway project, the North-South Commuter Railway and MRT extension to Cavite.

In a statement, the DOTr said that Bautista  ”thanked the President for the opportunity to work in government which Bautista considered his most challenging stint.”

”He also called his first government post most enriching, having served with utmost integrity,” it stated.

“Sec. Bautista looks forward to a smooth transition, after which a much needed vacation to recuperate from two and half years of intense public service,” the DOTr added. Robina Asido/DMS