Saying everyone is free to pursue his political dreams, resigned Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. Thursday turned over his post to his successor in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to join the presidential derby in 2010.

Speaking in a press conference, Ebdane said his sudden resignation came amid the clamor of his fellow Cabinet official (referring to Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita) to quit his post in order to seek the highest office.

“It’s not the President (Arroyo) who told me to resign,” Ebdane told reporters as he took a dig against the selection process of the administration party’s Lakas-Kampi-CMD for closing its doors on him.

The party has picked Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro as its standard bearer.

Ebdane said President Arroyo gave her nod to his political plans and he quoted her as saying, “it’s your future, it’s your decision.”

He submitted his resignation letter at a time when he was busy supervising over the road and bridge repairs that have been damaged by Typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng. He was also on top of the preparations for the coming Typhoon Ramil.

Asked about his priorities once elected President, Ebdane said his programs will focus on infrastructure and agriculture, including other concerns such as the insurgency.

“I will continue with the infrastructure projects. We have completed the North and South infrastructure developments and now we have to further work on the Eastern and Western nautical highway. We have to have access to the productions area to benefit the farmers,” he said.

Ebdane, who has a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (BSCE) degree from the Mapúa Institute of Technology, explained that “national road projects attract investors and when we have good infrastructure, foreign investments will be pouring in.”

Rather than buying bombs to address the insurgency, it’s better to spend the money for tractors to build roads, he said.

“Politics is dirty, but as for me, I’ll just do it (my job as President) properly.”

Meanwhile, Victor Domingo, Presidential Adviser on New Government Centers, was appointed by President Arroyo to sit as DPWH officer-in-charge over three senior undersecretaries: Bashir Rasuman, Manuel Bonoan, and Rafael Yabut.

“We are professionals here at DPWH so we respect the wisdom of the President. We are here to assist him. Knowing him, he is a good man and hardworking but he has yet to familiarize himself on his new job,” said DPWH Undersecretary Romeo Momo for Luzon operations, referring to Domingo.

However, DPWH employees were disappointed with the appointment of Domingo, saying that there are more qualified career officials in the department.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde announced the appointment of Domingo, former director of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), a day after Ebdane relinquished his post.

“Secretary Vic Domingo will assume as Acting Secretary to replace Secretary Ebdane whose resignation has been accepted by the President in order to pursue his own political plans,” he told a press briefing.

In the same news briefing, Domingo, who served as regional director for more than a decade in the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), expressed his gratitude to President Arroyo’s vote of confidence for him to pursue the government’s rehabilitation and construction plans.

He vowed to brave the 254 “stressful and demanding” days during his stint in the Department to carry out Mrs. Arroyo’s key doable infrastructure projects. “These will be the longest days of my life,” Domingo said.

Domingo met the President during the 65th anniversary celebration of the Leyte Gulf Landing in Palo Leyte on October 20.

The Acting Secretary said his priority is to fast track the rehabilitation of damaged infrastructures.

Tropical storm Ondoy’s damage to infrastructure and agriculture reached P3.68 billion and P6.76 billion, respectively. While, typhoon Pepeng destroyed P1.09 billion worth of infrastructure and wrought damage to agriculture amounting to P3.99 billion.

Domingo also proposed the transfer of government agencies, including the Department of Agriculture (DA) to Iligan, Isabela; Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC) to Mabalacat, Pampanga; Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to Aurora, Quezon; and the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to Mindanao.

Cabinet Secretary Silvestre Bello III said Domingo “is the personal choice of the President,” adding that the administration did not force Ebdane to resign.

“I don’t think Secretary Ebdane was pressured. He just exercised the principle of delicadeza. Minabuti na niya mag-resign para wala nang accusations later na gagamitin ang opisina nya for his political plans,” Bello said.

Presidential economic spokesperson Gary Olivar said the administration’s speedy response to replace Ebdane is only “consistent with the tenure of his resignation.”