Quezon City (20 October) -- JUSTIFYING the latest reshuffle in her Cabinet, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said Thursday that she was putting premium on the performance of her officials as her government pursued good governance and more revenues.

"A minor reshuffle in the Cabinet on agencies has been done to put performance in the people's interest at peak as I and my entire team intensifies the campaign of good governance, more revenues, and prudent spending," Arroyo said in a speech at the 27th Lanzones Festival in the island of Camiguin.

Arroyo said the payback to the people was "becoming evident" and that "takeoff in the horizon looms."

"There is a growing bandwagon of belief that economic takeoff is well within reach and this is why the government has been working overtime on our economic blueprint," she said.

The Palace announced the appointment of Arthur Yap as secretary of the Department of Agriculture from being head of the Presidential Management Staff (PMS).

Domingo Panganiban, then agriculture secretary, was named lead convenor of the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC).

From the NAPC, Cerge Remonde will take over Yap's post as PMS chief.

Malacanang also announced SERGIO Apostol's appointment as the new chief presidential legal counsel.