MANILA, Philippines – HUDCC became a trending topic in the Philippines on Thursday evening, July 7, after news broke that Vice President Leni Robredo accepted President Rodrigo Duterte's offer for her to lead the agency.
HUDCC is the acronym of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, the government's highest policy-making and coordinating office on shelter programs.
It was headed by Robredo's predecessors, former vice presidents Jejomar Binay and Noli De Castro, during the Aquino and Arroyo administrations, respectively.
Duterte offered the position to the Vice President days after Robredo paid him a visit in Malacañang last Monday, July 4 – their first formal meeting.
{source}<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PresidentDuterte?src=hash">#PresidentDuterte</a> talks to VP <a href="https://twitter.com/lenirobredo">@lenirobredo</a> on the phone to discuss the VP's cabinet post.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PartnerForChange?src=hash">#PartnerForChange</a> <a href="https://t.co/xDIfrlbFQE">pic.twitter.com/xDIfrlbFQE</a></p>— Presidential Comm (@PresidentialCom) <a href="https://twitter.com/PresidentialCom/status/751026413336031232">July 7, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source}
Social media users welcomed Robredo's appointment, wishing that it would be the first step toward political unity after the bitterly contested elections in May.
{source}<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">"Duterte gives Leni Robredo cabinet position as HUDCC chief"<br><br>ME <a href="https://t.co/CLQ94zjme8">pic.twitter.com/CLQ94zjme8</a></p>— ella (@SPACESHlFT) <a href="https://twitter.com/SPACESHlFT/status/751029665796534272">July 7, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source}
{source}<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Congrats <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VPLeni?src=hash">#VPLeni</a> for being the head of HUDCC. Make your fellow bicolano's proud! Good luck Ma'am!</p>— Mark (@markythology) <a href="https://twitter.com/markythology/status/751027514558910464">July 7, 2016</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source}
{source}<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Awwe Pres Duterte asked VP Leni as the head of HUDCC. Very nice! Looking forward for all your projects.</p>— DOPE (@AlyzaMayy) <a href="https://twitter.com/AlyzaMayy/status/751025153031544833">July 7, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source}
{source}<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Mama Leni is the new HUDCC chief. Not what we really hoped for her but still a good venue for her advocacies. A semblance of unity finally!</p>— a girl has no name ➵ (@hnnhmeh) <a href="https://twitter.com/hnnhmeh/status/751017650457751553">July 7, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source}
{source}<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">PRRD is now showing off his good side by offering the cabinet position of HUDCC Chair to VPLR! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BreakingNews?src=hash">#BreakingNews</a></p>— Aldhen Huenda (@aldhenrichards) <a href="https://twitter.com/aldhenrichards/status/751021833898455041">July 7, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source}
{source}<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Incredibly delighted for <a href="https://twitter.com/lenirobredo">@lenirobredo</a>'s appointment as HUDCC secretary :) Looking forward to a productive working relationship with PDigong!</p>— EZEL (@TheAmazingEzel) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheAmazingEzel/status/751039388218302464">July 7, 2016</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source}
{source}<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Sa wakas, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PDU30?src=hash">#PDU30</a> appoint <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VPLeni?src=hash">#VPLeni</a> as HUDCC chief. Hopeful that her appointment will make a breakthrough in housing and urban poor.</p>— ⓡⓔⓘⓖⓝ•ⓖⓦⓐⓟⓘⓣⓞ (@ReignGwapito) <a href="https://twitter.com/ReignGwapito/status/751028666881024000">July 7, 2016</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source}
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Leni Robredo appointed as HUDCC(Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council) chief. Good news talaga to. Thanks DU30</p>— Jelo Gocjin Marquez (@itsmechichoi) <a href="https://twitter.com/itsmechichoi/status/751026721990651905">July 7, 2016</a></blockquote>
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{source}<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">It's so nice that <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VPLeni?src=hash">#VPLeni</a> was assigned a cabinet post for the HUDCC!! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UnitedForChange?src=hash">#UnitedForChange</a></p>— Boms Canicula (@BOMScanicula) <a href="https://twitter.com/BOMScanicula/status/751041650663821312">July 7, 2016</a></blockquote><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>{/source}
Duterte asked Robredo to attend the Cabinet meeting set for Monday, July 11.
The country's top two leaders had made their first public appearance together at the change of command ceremony of the Armed Forces of the Philippines last Friday, July 1. They exchanged pleasantries and Robredo described it as a "cordial" meeting.
The President was previously non-committal about giving Robredo a Cabinet post, saying 5 weeks ago that he did not know her well and he had to consider his friendship with Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr, who was Robredo's rival in the vice presidential race. – Rappler.com