Ex-NFA chief Lito Banayo is new MECO representative

MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed former National Food Authority chief Angelito Banayo as Managing Director and Resident Representative of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO), Malacañang announced on Friday, July 1.

MECO is the Philippines’ representative office in Taiwan, and functions as a de facto embassy in the absence of diplomatic relations.

Malacañang described Banayo, who supported the Duterte campaign, as a public service veteran.

Prior to his stint as NFA administrator in the previous administration, he served as Postmaster General of the Cory Aquino administration and as Philippine Tourism Authority administrator under President Joseph Estrada.

Malacañang said Banayo was instrumental in the creation of the Philippine Postal Corporation and  instituting reforms aimed at reducing theft by employees. He also initiated the probe on corruption activities in the postal service, and installed one-way mirrors at the Manila International Airport Distribution Center.

Banayo grew up in Butuan City, Agusan del Norte. He studied economics at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran Manila, and completed further studies at the  Ateneo Graduate School of Business and the University of the Philippines College of Public Administration.

Along with Banayo’s appointment, the Malacañang also announced the appointment of Rudolfo Salalima as head of the new Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and Liza Maza as Lead Convenor of the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC).

“An information technology expert, an activist advocating the rights of the poor, and a long-time government servant are among the experts in their respective fields who have joined my Cabinet,” the new president said of his choices. – Rappler.com