Aquino sticks to Lina, Tolentino; traders want Metro traffic czar
President Aquino is not about to let go of Bureau of Customs (BOC) Alberto Lina and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Francis Tolentino despite a growing clamor for their resignation over alleged incompetence.
The two government officials continue to enjoy the trust and confidence of the President in performing
their respective duties to the nation, according to Presidential Communications Operations Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr.
“Commissioner Lina and Chairman Tolentino have difficult responsibilities which they’re trying to fulfill to the best of their ability. In doing their jobs, not all of their statements are agreed upon by those affected or may be affected by their decision or action,” Coloma said in a statement.
“It’s unfair to demand the resignation of officials like them just because of a disagreement. To my knowledge, the President continues to trust in the competence of the two officials,” Coloma added.
Lina Lina, who assumed the top Customs post just last April, is under fire for his recent proposal to randomly open balikbayan boxes sent by overseas Filipino workers in line with the intensified campaign against smuggling.
The BOC’s plan did not sit well with Filipino workers abroad as well as other sectors who took to social media to denounce the administration’s insensitivity towards the people.
With the deluge of complaints, the President finally intervened and directed the customs bureau to stop the random physical inspection of the OFW boxes. The BOC will instead conduct mandatory X-ray and K-9 inspection of the incoming balikabayan boxes.
Despite Aquino’s intervention, some OFW groups continued to demand Lina’s resignation for his bungled priorities in the customs bureau.
Tolentino Tolentino, on the other hand, has been criticized for engaging in premature campaigning in the provinces instead of addressing the daily traffic congestion in Metro Manila. An online petition seeking Tolentino’s resignation has already been initiated via Change. org.
Yesterday, the head of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) personally directed traffic, showing that he is still in charge of traffic situation in the metropolis. Wearing a black and yellow long sleeved shirt, jeans and rubber shoes, Tolentino was first spotted manning traffic near the Ateneo de Manila University along Katipunan Avenue Gate 3 in Quezon City, and later, in other parts of the metro.
Tolentino’s stint as traffic enforcer also brought him to EDSA-SM Megamall area in Mandaluyong to untangle traffic gridlock as motorists head south. The MMDA chairman said it was not the first time that he took the role of a traffic enforcer.
Will not quit
Tolentino said he will not quit from his post amid calls for his immediate resignation initiated by labor organization Public Services Labor Independent Confederation (PS LINK) due to unbearable traffic endured by commuters every day.
Tolentino, rumored to join the senatorial race next year, was among the Cabinet members who joined the Presidnet’s visit to Cebu, that included a “gathering of friends” to rally support for the presidential bid of Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas.
Clamor for traffic czar
In the wake of the traffic woes, businessmen yesterday joined the call for President Aquino to appoint a traffic czar who will be officially in charge of solving Metro Manila’s worsening vehicular congestion as well as commissioning the planning of a high-capacity subway system under the perennially overcrowded Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (EDSA).
Members of the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) yesterday nominated Secretary to the Cabinet Rene Almendras to be appointed as traffic czar who will “take charge of all matters related to or affecting traffic and road management on all national roads around Metro Manila.” Almendras was appointed as the head of the Cabinet Cluster Committee on Port Congestion last year.
The organization also urged Malacañang to commission the planning of a subway system under EDSA considering the presence of various shopping malls, government institutions, business districts and residential areas along the 49-kilometer highway.
Metro expressways
The business group likewise proposed the upgrade of major national roads into expressways that will facilitate easy ingress to and egress from busy districts around Metro Manila.
“The following roads are prime candidates for re-ingineering as expressways: EDSA, C5, Roxas Boulevard, Diosdado Macapagal Avenue, Commonwealth Avenue, Lawton Avenue in West Fort Bonifacio, Kalayaan Avenue, Shaw Boulevard, Ortigas Avenue, E. Rodriguez Avenue, Ramon Magsaysay Avenue, Roosevelt Avenue, Quezon Avenue, and Bonifacio Road in Quezon City,” MAP listed.
The group also suggested the building of new bridges across Pasig River to reduce vehicular convergence on EDSA and C5 especially during rush hours.
“Using prefabricated steel bridges for fast completion, construction of the long missing C3 bridge link from Makati to Mandaluyong and another link to Bonifacio Global City to an appropriate location in Capitolyo will greatly disperse vehicular traffic to relieve congestion,” MAP pointed out.
The association said severe traffic congestion and poor public transportation systems in Metro Manila is a “great detriment” to the people, economy, and environment.