President Noynoy Aquino has chosen the new heads of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) as he admitted having difficulty convincing people to work in government.

The President said he would make the formal announcement of the new MMDA chairman when the person takes his oath of office.

As for the new MWSS head, the President said he has signed the appointment paper of the person nominated by Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson.

“He (Singson) nominated somebody, I don't remember the name, I signed the appointment papers yesterday (Thursday),” he told reporters in a chance interview after a police training event in Subic, Zambales.

In explaining the delay of the appointment of a new MMDA chairman, the President said he wanted to prevent a repeat of the incident when a supposed new appointee got cold feet and backed out.

“Can we make the proper announcement to coincide with his oath taking?,” the President told reporters when pressed about the identity of the new MMDA chairman.

With only a few weeks in office, the President acknowledged his daunting task of persuading qualified people to work in government due to low pay and guaranteed pack of detractors.

Mr. Aquino is trying to fill close to 5,000 vacant positions mostly managerial and executive levels in government agencies, including government owned and controlled corporations and government financial institutions.

He said it was imperative to appoint people with integrity and competence in these government agencies.