The newly-appointed secretary of the Department of Transportation vowed to continue the “Build, Build, Build” program of the Duterte administration and focus on moving passengers and goods.
Secretary Jaime Bautista, former president of Philippine Airlines, said the Marcos administration would provide “accessible, affordable, comfortable and safe transport service throughout the country” through the use of the transport systems.
“As discussed during my initial meeting with President Bongbong, we will transform the Philippine transport industry and elevate it to global standards,” Bautista said.
“We should focus our efforts at moving passengers and goods that use our roads, airports, seaports and railways,” he said.
Bautista said the department would also continue the “Build, Build, Build” program started by the Duterte administration.
“I would like to assure Secretary Art [Tugade] that we will seriously consider continuing the various programs implemented under [former] President Duterte’s ‘Build, Build, Build’ initiative,” Bautista said.
“We do not need to reinvent the wheel. These big-ticket projects truly deserve continuity to strike the maximum benefits for the Filipino people,” he said.
Bautista said to successfully perform his duties as secretary, he sought the help of the agency’s officials and employees in addressing various issues concerning the transportation sector.
“As a newcomer to this office, I anticipate the usual hesitation to any changes in the way you do things. I promise to listen to your suggestions. I have always been a good listener,” he said, addressing the DOTr officials and employees.
“I will not pretend to have all the solutions. With many daunting tasks ahead of us, I ask for your help in making this administration succeed in solving the seemingly insurmountable transport concerns of Filipinos,” he said.
Bautista said he is keen on making a difference in the agency. “We will surely be under scrutiny if we can’t deliver. My confidence is derived from my own experience at overcoming far pernicious issues that allowed us to sharpen our perspective at attacking contentious problems,” he said.
Meanwhile, newly-appointed Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual said he wanted to break down the “silos” between DTI, its attached agencies and government-owned and controlled corporations.
“Because that is the only way we can fully harness the capabilities of our people to address problems that will come our way,” he said during the turnover ceremony Friday.
He encouraged the bureaucracy within the DTI to take a second look at its organizational structure and processes, and initiate the transformation into an “agile organization” bereft of layers of bureaucracy.
“So we will have to work together in addressing problems as they evolve and products will come up given the very volatile and uncertain situation that we still face,” Pascual said.
He also vowed to continue the programs initiated by his predecessor, Ramon Lopez particularly on programs that will mainstream and globalize local micro, small and medium enterprises and create new opportunities to support the manufacturing sector.