Friends of Ronnie Group Launched

August 7, 2009

A group backing the advocacy of Secretary Ronnie Puno of the Department of the Interior and Local Government to empower local government units and establish a new breed of law enforcers and public safety officers was launched Friday night, with initially over 100 members comprising the country’s business leaders and lawmakers pledging their support behind the DILG chief.

The “Friends of Ronnie” (FOR) was formed by Puno’s brothers—lawyers Eric and Regis Puno--and businessman Eric Tagle.

Among the FOR members are Ambassador Donald Dee, who is the chairman emeritus of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI); Sergio Ortiz-Luis of the Philippine Exporters Federation (Philexport);   Francis Chua and Rene Simbulan of PCCI; Miguel Varela of the Employers Confederation of the Philippines and Alfonso Uy of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc (FFCCCII).

The FOR members likewise include  July Puzon of the Sabella Fashion Group; Rusty Samson of Denver Publishing; Greggie Licaros III of Eurocredit; Gus Corpus of Hotel SOGO; Isagani Germar of San Jose Builders; Nicanor C. Reyes III of FEU Hospital; Ricky Farinas of Farinas Transit; Ferdinand Santos of Fil-Estate; and Joey Uy of First Telecom.

Also FOR members are Representatives  Amelita Villarosa, Rodolfo Albano, Junie Cua, Antonio Alvarez, Rodolfo Antonino, Narciso Bravo, Thomas Dumpit, Emmylou Talino-Mendoza, Aurelio Gonzales, Francisco Matugas, and Eduardo Gullas.

Retired Justice Minister Ricardo Puno Sr. the Puno patriarch, and Mrs. Priscilla Puno, were also present during the event to show their support for their son’s advocacies and initiatives at the DILG as well as in his future endeavors.

Also present were Secretary Puno’s wife Pinky, their children,  his brother Rep. Robbie Puno and his sisters Charilou Dizon and Rosella Mapa.

FOR, according to lawyer Regis Puno, aims to “increase public awareness of the accomplishments of the DILG under Ronnie Puno.”

The private sector component of FOR has been responsible for the series of infomercials on the DILG’s accomplishments in terms of establishing women and children protection desks in all police stations nationwide and the hiring of at least 3,000 policemen each year on Puno’s watch.

In his invocation at the launching of FOR, Eric Puno, the youngest of the Puno siblings,  said the occasion was the “start of a noble commitment” for the group’s members.

He noted that under Secretary Puno’s leadership, the DILG has successfully partnered with local chief executives and officials in community building and peacekeeping, and has strongly advocated and implemented programs  to protect women and children, establish a new breed of policemen and policewomen, and created a responsive organization to combat crime and terrorism.

“We recognize that he has been instrumental in carrying out the DILG’s mandate to empower local government units by delivering effective and efficient public service.”

Secretary Puno, wearing his trademark golden rod polo, told the media that the event was organized by his family and friends.

“I hope they will remain all my friends forever, but as of now we won’t be talking any politics here,” Puno said.  “Many of them  here I haven’t seen for a long time and I’m just happy that they’re around.”

Secretary Puno  has served in various capacities as assistant to chief executives in an array of government agencies over a span of 22 years—and where he has built a solid reputation as a behind-the-scenes action man.

As DILG secretary during the previous Estrada administration and the present Arroyo administration, he has either initiated, negotiated, supported or ensured the completion of P18.7 billion-worth of capacity-building and access-to-financing programs, P8.96 billion-worth of road and bridge programs, and P2.6 billion-worth of water supply projects for local government units (LGUs).

These big-ticket projects include the Provincial Road Management Facility (PRMF), a P3.8-billion project funded by a grant from the Australian Agency for International Aid (AusAid) and which is the single biggest road project of the Arroyo government. PRMF involves the rehabilitation of 1,000 kilometers of road that will benefit 4 million people in the Visayas and Mindanao.

He also initiated the P4.45-billion Austrian-assisted President's Bridge Program (PBP II) that is now benefiting 10 million people in 68 provinces, and ensured the completion of PBP I, a UK-assisted P720-million bridge program covering 65 provinces.

Secretary Puno also supported the P1.35-billion LGU Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Project (LGU-UWSSSP).

To enhance public order and safety, he has worked for higher budgetary outlays for the DILG so it can fund a lot more capacity-building programs not only for LGUs but also for the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Bureaus of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) and of Fire Protection (BFP).