Senators urge DOTr to ‘urgently’ find qualified replacement for Chavez

MAY 23, 2017
USec Cesar Chavez (DOTr USec. for Rail) at the Senate inquiry into the MRT3.
INQUIRER PHOTO/LYN RILLON

Senators urged Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade on Thursday to immediately find a new but qualified undersecretary for rails following the resignation of Cesar Chavez amid the glitches hounding the Metro Rail Rail Line 3 (MRT-3).

READ: DOTr Usec. Cesar Chavez resigns over MRT-3 mess

While expressing dismay over Chavez’ resignation, Senators Miguel Zubiri, Nancy Binay, and Grace Poe, who chairs the Senate public services committee, has called on Tugade to hastily find for Chavez’ replacement.

READ: Poe doubts ‘sense of delicadeza’ only reason for Chavez resignation

“The interest of the public and the improvement of the country’s transportation system should be the foremost considerations in choosing a new person at the helm, rather than political accommodation or reciprocity,” Poe said in a statement.

“The new rail czar will have his hands full aside from having to fill the big shoes of Cesar. Public service should be the mantra of the person selected to replace Cesar,” Zubiri said.

Meanwhile, Senate President Aquilino Pimentel, and Senators Sherwin Gatchalian and Joel Villanueva lamented the resignation of Chavez, whom they lauded as a responsible public official.

“Nakakalungkot kasi (It’s saddening because) he’s one dedicated public official. Na-surprise ako eh (I was surprised),” Pimentel, who recommended Chavez to the transportation agency, said in an ambush interview.

“Masyado yata siyang frustrated, baka nadismaya sya na he’s just doing his job at hindi naman happy ang commuter sa service ng MRT,” he added.

(Maybe he became really frustrated, maybe he’s dismayed that he’s just doing his job but the commuters aren’t happy with the MRT service.)

Gatchalian said Chavez is a big loss to the DOTr considering that he had been “upfront and straightforward” with the problems that continues to pester the MRT-3.

“DOTr urgently needs a good communicator to explain to us, the public about their plans and solutions to improve the traffic situation of the country,” he said.

Villanueva likewise said: “We should continue what he started: unearth and address the real issues, anomalies and problems in the DOTr.” /je

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