PRRD fires two Pasig rehab officials over project delay
Two officials of the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission (PRRC) have been fired by President Duterte – announcing their fate on national television – for allegedly causing “undue delay" in the construction of a skyway project in Metro Manila.
The President said the two officials sent him a letter apologizing for their actions related to the proposed Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3 project. He dismissed them instead.
“Nagmamadali nga tayo (We are hurrying things up) so that we can have the mobility of the people of Metro Manila moving faster. Itong dalawa, inupuan ‘yan (These two sat on it for) almost one year,” Duterte said over government television.
"Kaya sabi ko (That I why I said), while they sent me a letter apologizing for the delay, I’m telling them now – dito ngayon sa TV – I have fired you actually,” he added.
But the President did not name the two government officials who got the pink slip.
In his remarks, Duterte said the two officials initially argued they were trying to protect the Pasig River from the adverse impact of the massive road project proposed by the Citra Group.
Duterte, however, questioned the officials’ logic about keeping Pasig River clean and pristine when it has remained polluted for many years.
“I came here in 60 – late ‘60s na magaral (to study) ‘Yang Pasig river na ‘yan, brown na ‘yan. Ngayon mamamatay na ako, brown pa rin (that Pasig river was already brown. Now, I am nearing death, it’s still brown),” he said with sarcasm.
“Sabi ko, ‘What are you talking about a pristine river when the Philippines does not have a sewer or sewerage drainage system?” Duterte noted.
Inordinate delay Duterte admitted that the two PRRC officials may be held liable for violation of the anti-graft practices law after getting complaints about the undue delay in the project implementation.
He explained that Cabinet members are supposed to act on project proposals within a month while regional directors must take action within 15 days.
In the case of the two PRRC officials, Duterte said documents needed for the Skyway project initiated by the Citra Group remained pending for several months in their office.
The Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3 project involves the construction of an elevated expressway connecting Buendia, Makati City to Balintawak, Quezon City.
It will have a total of 14 toll plazas and will connect the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) and the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX). The target completion date is January 2019.
The dismissal of the two PRRC officials came a few weeks after the President met with top officials of Citra group at Malago Club House in Malacañang last September 28.
In that meeting, the President tackled the construction of the 14.3 kilometer skyway project with the company executives, as well as the proposals to prioritize “the restoration of the Pasig River to its historical pristine condition,” according to the Palace.
Among those present in the meeting were Citra Metro Manila Tollways Corp. resident manager Philippe Gouvary, Citra Metro Manila Tollways deputy commercial manager Samuel Bayot, and San Miguel Holdings Corp. technical head, Engr. Norberto Conti.
PRCC executive director Jose Antonio Goitia and Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) executive director Abraham Sales also attended the meeting.
It was Goitia who reportedly appealed to Malacanang to resolve the proposed re-alignment of the MMSS project Section 2 to avoid harming both Pasig and San Juan Rivers and lead to flooding in the nearby areas.