MANILA, Philippines – Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon has asked for the courtesy resignations of undersecretaries, assistant secretaries, and directors of the department.
The newly appointed transport chief wants a “free hand to perform the mandate given to him by the President,” a memorandum he signed on February 24 read.
“Until any action is taken by the undersigned on such courtesy resignations, all undersecretaries, assistant secretaries, and directors shall continue to report for work and perform their usual duties and responsibilities, subject to any modification that the undersigned may deem proper to adopt in the meantime,” Dizon said.
Officials are given until Wednesday, February 26, to turn in their courtesy resignations.
The shakeup at the department comes midway through the Marcos administration. Dizon was appointed after airline executive Jaime Bautista, who was plucked out of retirement to lead the Department of Transportation (DOTr), resigned due to health reasons.
After taking his oath before the President on February 21, Dizon told the press he plans to bring in former transport officials to help him lead the department. Recognizing that he has little time to learn the ropes of the DOTr, Dizon said he wanted to bring in those with experience.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered Dizon to “fast track” key infrastructure projects, namely the Metro Manila Subway Project and the North-South Commuter Railway System.
However, DOTr sources have said that among the hurdles Dizon would have to face is a legal opinion issued by the Department of Justice that opened up a can of worms on right-of-way acquisition issues.
Jeremy Regino resigned from his post as DOTr undersecretary for the railway sector back in January, weeks before Bautista gave up his post. Sources privy to the matter said the DOJ legal opinion was among the reasons Regino resigned as most railway projects have been put to a halt.
In the meantime, DOTr sources said that Timothy John Batan is in charge of the railways sector, taking the position vacated by Regino. It remains to be seen if Batan will be appointed as railways undersecretary by Dizon.
The new transport chief has not disclosed who he has tapped to join him in leading the department. However, Dizon did note that some current undersecretaries will keep their posts.
The announcement of the new officials’ appointments will be made by the Office of the President, Dizon previously said. – Rappler.com