Former Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Cheloy Garafil is set to formally assume her new role as chairperson of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) on Monday, replacing outgoing MECO chief Silvestre Bello III.
The MECO Board will hold a meeting on September 30 after President Marcos officially endorsed Garafil to serve as head of the Philippine Representative Office in Taiwan. Bello held the MECO post for two years (2022-2024).
In a statement, the Federation of Filipino Communities in Taiwan thanked Bello for addressing their needs and concerns as well as “ensuring their rights are protected and promoting their welfare.”
“Such efforts not only enhance the quality of life for individuals but also strengthen the cultural and social bonds between the two nations,” the organization said in a letter to President Marcos, according to an Inquirer report.
Garafil is a lawyer and former journalist. She had stints as reporter for newspaper Malaya, the Philippine Daily Globe and the Central News Agency of Taiwan before working for the government full-time.
