By Roy Pelovello and Gigi Mu?oz David

PRESIDENT Arroyo has appointed Teresa Aquino Oreta as chairman of a council on child welfare, the sixth losing member of the Team Unity senatorial slate in 2007 to be appointed to a government post.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita announced the appointment of Oreta to the Early Childhood Care and Development Council, an agency under the Office of the President, during his weekly press briefing yesterday. The position carries the rank of a Cabinet secretary.

Ermita said the appointment is not a political accommodation.

?She [Oreta] has accepted the appointment. I think the [former] senator believes she can contribute [to the government?s efforts in this area],? Ermita said.

?The President did not create that position just to accommodate [former] Senator Oreta. The President thinks it necessary and having thought of it she thought of appointing former Senator Oreta,? he added.

Other members of the administration?s senatorial slate in the May 2007 elections who have been appointed to government posts include former Senator Ralph Recto as chief of National Economic Development Authority, Vicente Sotto III as chairman of the Dangerous Drugs Board, former Rep. Luis ?Chavit? Singson as deputy national security adviser, and former Rep. Prospero Pichay as member of the board of directors of the Local Waterworks Utilities Administration.

Mrs. Arroyo tapped Michael Defensor as head of the Presidential Task Force on the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) 3. He resigned after the Naia 3 opened and is lending his expertise, on a private capacity, to the North Rail project.

Education Secretary Jesli Lapus said Oreta?s appointment was a ?most welcome development.?

?This will be a boost in the country?s concerted and focused efforts on the huge children?s sector and we look forward to working with her,? he said.

Created through Executive Order 778, the council was tasked to ?complement all efforts to develop the Filipino child?s full potentials by nurturing them during the vital years from 0 to 6,? Oreta said in a statement released by the Palace.