Malacañang on Saturday announced the appointment of new Cabinet officials, including the appointment of Cebu City Congressman Antonio Cuenco, as the new Philippine ambassador to Italy.

Cuenco, who represents the Second District of Cebu City, is also the chairman of the foreign affairs committee of the House of Representatives.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said that Cuenco is qualified for the position since “he has served as the chairman of the House committee on foreign affairs for a long time.”

“He applied for it, he asked for the position, he is qualified,” Remonde said, expressing optimism that Cuenco will be approved by the Commission on Appointments (CA), where Cuenco has also served as a member.

Cuenco will replace Philippine Ambassador to Italy Philippe Lhuillier, who is also a political appointee from Cebu.

As political appointee, Philippine ambassadors have no tour of duty but serve at the pleasure of the President. Lhuillier’s term has already ended. Cuenco’s term will be co-terminus with the appointing president and his term will automatically end on June 30, 2010, upon the proclamation of a new Philippine President.

Contrary to political appointees, career service diplomats have an average of six years’ tour of duty.

Aside from Cuenco, other new presidential appointees include Pilita Quizon – Venturanza as the new deputy executive secretary for general administration at the Office of the President, replacing Edwin Enrile; Salome Habal, who was appointed as acting executive director of the National Parks Development Committee under the Department of Tourism (DoT); and Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) senior deputy commissioner Joel Tan-Torres as the acting commissioner of the BIR, replacing Sixto Esquivias IV, who resigned from his post earlier this month.

Likewise, the President has named new assistant secretaries at the Department of Finance (DoF), namely: Soledad Emilia Cruz, who will replace Asec. Gil Beltran; Ma. Teresa Habitan, who will replace Asec. Jeremias Paul Jr.; and Ma. Lourdes Recente, who will replace Asec. Carlito Prado Yu.