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Marcos Cabinet appointments took center stage on November 6, 2026, as President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. administered the oath of office to 10 senior government officials at Malacañang Palace. The ceremony formalized their appointments to key positions in the administration, including nine Cabinet departments and the Philippine Space Agency.

The appointments include nine Cabinet secretaries and the director general of the Philippine Space Agency. The officials will undergo confirmation proceedings before the Commission on Appointments (CA), according to Executive Secretary Ralph Recto.

The latest appointments come amid continuing changes in the Marcos administration’s leadership, including the reassignment of officials overseeing major government departments.

Nine Cabinet Secretaries, One Agency Head

The officials who took their oaths during Friday’s ceremony were:

• Ralph Recto – Executive Secretary
• Fredderick Vida – Justice Secretary
• Kim Robert De Leon – Budget Secretary
• Giovanni Lopez – Public Works Secretary
• Francis Tolentino – Labor Secretary
• Edwin Mercado – Health Secretary
• Juan Miguel Cuna – Environment Secretary
• Maria Bernardita Angara-Mathay – Tourism Secretary
• Vince Dizon – Transportation Secretary
• Gay Jane Perez – Philippine Space Agency Director General

The Philippine News Agency reported that most of the officials had previously been serving in acting capacities before receiving their latest appointments.

Speaking to reporters after the ceremony, Recto confirmed that all 10 officials had received ad interim appointments from the President and that their appointments had already been submitted to the Commission on Appointments.

Recto said the officials would undergo the required confirmation process.

What Are Ad Interim Appointments?

The latest appointments involve a constitutional process that allows the President to fill important government positions while Congress is in recess.

Under Article VII, Section 16 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, the President has the authority to make ad interim appointments during a congressional recess. These appointments take effect immediately but remain subject to action by the Commission on Appointments.

This arrangement allows appointed officials to assume their responsibilities without waiting for Congress to resume its regular sessions.

However, the appointments are not beyond review. The Commission on Appointments has the authority to approve or reject appointments that fall under its constitutional jurisdiction.

The commission is composed of members from both the Senate and the House of Representatives, with the Senate President serving as its ex officio chairman.

Its role is to examine presidential appointments and determine whether nominees meet the qualifications required for their respective positions.

For the newly appointed officials, the next important step will be the commission’s confirmation process.

Cabinet Reshuffle Moves Dizon and Lopez to New Departments

The latest appointments also formalize leadership changes involving two major infrastructure-related departments.

Vince Dizon, who previously headed the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), has moved to the Department of Transportation (DOTr) as its secretary.

Giovanni Lopez, meanwhile, has been reassigned to lead the DPWH.

The changes place the two officials in charge of departments with significant responsibilities in the country’s infrastructure and public service programs.

The DPWH oversees the construction, maintenance and rehabilitation of national roads, bridges and other public infrastructure. The DOTr is responsible for policies and programs involving land, air and maritime transportation.

Their new assignments will be closely watched as the government continues implementing infrastructure projects and addressing transportation concerns.

What Happens Next?

The confirmation process before the Commission on Appointments will be a significant next step for the 10 officials.

Under the Constitution, ad interim appointments remain effective unless disapproved by the commission or until the next adjournment of Congress.

The commission’s review provides an additional layer of scrutiny over appointments to key government positions.

For the officials, confirmation would provide an important step toward securing their positions through the constitutional appointment process. Any disapproval, meanwhile, could affect their continued service in those posts.

The November 6 oath-taking ceremony therefore marks more than a formal government event. It signals another stage in the Marcos administration’s efforts to establish its Cabinet leadership while placing the appointments under the scrutiny of the country’s constitutional confirmation mechanism.

As the process moves forward, attention will turn to the Commission on Appointments and the qualifications of the officials nominated to oversee some of the government’s most important departments and agencies.