NOT much is known, like most members of the Duterte Cabinet, about the new Secretary of the Department of Transportation (DOTr), Arthur “Art” Planta Tugade, except that he was President and CEO of Clark Development Corporation (CDC) appointed during President Aquino’s term.
It was only when he was appointed as the new Transportation Secretary by President Duterte – one of the first appointments under the new administration –that the general public took exceptional interest in this former businessman-lawyer, primarily because transportation was of utmost importance in this country reeling from massive metropolitan traffic jams, crowded railways and runways, and underdeveloped infrastructure.
Can he solve the traffic mess? The airport congestion? The MRT-LRT conundrum? Alas, questions of transcendental importance.
Last week, the Manila Overseas Press Club (MOPC), of which I am a member and the current Spokesperson, invited Secretary Tugade to its regular forum, precisely to answer these burning questions.
Against the grain of public curiosity, I’ve known and heard of Sec. Art even prior to his appointment to the DOTr. I’ve known him to be a man of competence and integrity. From humble beginnings, he rose to become a very successful entrepreneur. For these reasons, it was rather easy for me to introduce him during the forum.
The venue for the forum was packed and overflowing; clearly, an indication that many wanted to hear the Traffic Czar on what his plans and visions were for the department. And so, they all gathered, perhaps with bated breath, waiting as men did in ancient times (women were not allowed then) for the Oracle of All Ages to spew forth words of wisdom and foreboding.
Mind you, just some weeks before, Secretary Art was lambasted over social media for saying that traffic in Metro Manila was just a “state of mind”. Of course, going over the footage and transcript of the interview showed that he was misquoted. Indeed, during the forum, he had to devote time to clarifying about what he meant.
Secretary Art, in his usual inimitable manner, punctuated with flair when emphasizing a point, shared the DOTr’s roadmap, especially its 100-day action plan, and where we are now with regard to this plan. To discuss it all here would take up space equivalent to this whole broadsheet. Suffice it to say, it is a sound roadmap and a solid action plan that showed promise and made those of us listening rather hopeful in the direction our DOTr is taking or would want to take.
Only a bold yet foolish man would want to take on the task of fixing the transportation situation of this country. Secretary Art has not been known to flinch in the face of adversity.
And that’s not a matter of a “state of mind”; but, rather, a matter of “minding the State”.
We can only wish Secretary Art and his able and competent team the very best. For our sake let us all pray he succeeds!