Former senator now newly appointed secretary of Department of Transportation and Communication Mar Roxas received a mandate coming from President Noynoy Aquino himself to review “headaches” involving contracts and reorganizing the department considering its mission and vision as well as defining its true goal.
“I think that will be the first order of business, to really organize the DOTC and have them produce one voice,” the president told the media.
One problem that Aquino is well aware in DOTC is those that concern the Roll-on Roll-off (RORO) program or otherwise known as the “nautical highway”. When the president asks an investigation over this matter, a former executive wondered what these problems were and shows that he is not aware of it.
“They were the ones who informed me… they are also the ones asking me why I’m questioning it. They asked me to question it [but] when I questioned it, one of their undersecretaries is wondering why I’m questioning it,” the president said. But fairness aside, the president did not mention any name of who is this executive he is referring to.
When Mar Roxas seated as the new secretary of the DOTC, he resolve that he will be a “painkiller” to PNoy. The word was assumedly used after the president quoted that he is having three secretaries in his cabinet who are “headaches to” him.
Roxas said he will meet with the agencies under him and organize them all asking them to state their situations and to challenge them all and most important, to inform their budget limitations.
“Aalamin ko kung ano ang strengths, weaknesses, opportunities in the delivery of service. Hindi naman basta-basta na magde-decision tayo (sa revamp) na walang basehan. Mahalaga na professional, clear straightforward and time bound and specific and measurable lahat ng gagawin natin,” the secretary said.
Adding challenge to the defeated running mate of PNoy, he asked him to give attention to railway project in Bicol.
“The commitment is by November this year tatakbo ang kabuuan. That’s from Tutuban if I’m not mistaken to Bicol. I think if it’s fully operational, yan ang una naming biyahe gagawin. Maraming nag-volunteer.”
“We will try it ourselves. Baka ako feeling ko dapat i-surprise para makita kung ano talaga ang quality of service of PNR going south,” he added.
Posts Tagged ‘mar roxas-’
PNoy plans to “reorganize” DOTC?
by Alethea, on Wed, Jul 6 2011 | No Comments
Taiwan lifted ban on Filipino OFW
by Alethea, on Wed, Mar 16 2011 | No Comments
The tension between the Philippines and Taiwan is slowly clearing up as Taiwan lifted the suspension ban on Filipino migrant workers following the banning of their visa application and working permits. The lifting indicates that the conflict between two countries is clearly subsiding as Filipinos are once again welcomed to work in Taiwan. The conflict stemmed from the misunderstanding about the deportation of 14 Taiwanese to China and now that the two rifting countries are making amends with each other, migrant Filipinos are jubilant to return to Taiwan to work.
The conflict was settled when Special Emissary Manuel Roxas once again paid a visit to Taiwan to smoothen out the strain. He arrived from his second visit last Tuesday bringing good news to the hopeful OFWs. Roxas stressed that in behalf of the Philippine government, he did not apologized regarding the deportation.
“Hindi tayo nag-apologize noon at ngayon. Nagkaroon lang ng mas malawak na paguunawa,” explained Roxas.
The incident triggered Taiwan to implement stricter measures on Filipinos applying for visas and work permits in the country. Rather, Roxas emphasized during the talk that Philippines is very sincere in smoothening out the conflict between two countries. The above picture shows Mar Roxas discussing with Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou during his second visit.
Taiwan appreciated the effort compelling them to make the move after noting the Philippines’ sincerity in repairing the damage caused by the deportation to China of 14 Taiwanese accused of fraudulent activities.
“We have taken note of (the Philippines’) concern over the restrictions imposed by Taiwan on the applications by your nationals for visa application and work permits,” Taiwan said.
‚Äú(Taiwan) would like to thank you for the tireless and extraordinary efforts you have taken to bring our relations back to normal. We appreciate in particular the Special Emissary‚Äôs visit, which paved the way for a quick resolution to this unfortunate incident,” the government said.
Roxas to file Election Protest against Binay
by admin, on Thu, Jul 1 2010 | 3 Comments
After losing his fight in the vice presidential race to Jejomar Binay, Former Senator Manuel ‘Mar’ Roxas confirmed on Tuesday with his plan to file an election protest. This was based on Jing Reyes interview to the former senator in ABS-CBN North America News Bureau during a 2-day conference of the US Pinoys for Good Governance at the Sofitel Hotel. He did not mention when will be his lawyers will file the protest but instead he said that he had been given blessings to file a protest by President Noynoy Aquino.
“We were able to interview him before he left the event and he did confirm that he is pushing through with his election protest in connection with the over 2 million nulled votes that he said were not counted during the May 10 elections,” Reyes reported over ANC’s Dateline Philippines.
Roxas did not show during the Aquino and Binay’s inauguration at the Quirino Grandstand on Wednesday but instead he visited him in his house before leaving to go to the inauguration.
Noynoy’s 5-man Transition Team Revealed
by admin, on Wed, Jun 16 2010 | No CommentsBenigno “Noynoy” Aquino III the Philippine new elect president eyed 5-man for his presidential transition team.On Wednesday, a leter was sent to Malaca√±ang, and the President Identified the person that is part of his team and one of them is his running mate Mar Roxas.
The other members of the transition team are: former Education Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad, who may return to the Department of Education (DepEd); Julia Abad, Aquino’s chief of staff in the Senate; incoming Executive Secretary Paquito “Jojo” Ochoa Jr.; and, former Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, who is reportedly being eyed to head the Department of Finance again.
These 5 individuals have been granted the authority “necessary and indispensable for the lawful and efficient transfer of government authority and responsibility on June 30, 2010.”
The letter adds: “These responsibilities include, and are not limited to, coordinating arrangement for the inaugural program, ensuring the smooth turnover of Cabinet portfolios, and assisting in the accounting and disposition of relevant records, information and equipment.”
Presidential spokesman, Edwin Lacierda, clarified that Roxas’s designation as a member of the transition team does not violate the 1-year ban on appointing losing candidates to government posts. President Aquino also announced that he would give Roxas a position in government after the 1-year appointment ban on losing bets expires.
Noynoy and Mar of Liberal Party continues to lead in NBOC official canvass
by admin, on Fri, May 28 2010 | No Comments
Senators Benigno Aquino III and Manuel Roxas II of Liberal Party continue to lead in the official canvassing of votes for president and vice president on Friday. As of 4:36 in the afternoon, the National Board of Canvassers has checked and tallied 50 certificates of canvass from various countries where Filipinos were allowed to vote.
Result for President- Noynoy Aquino30,173, C de los Reyes139Joseph Estrada3,061, Richard Gordon2,319, Jamby Madrigal110, Nicanor Perlas87, Gilberto Teodoro4,624, Eddie Villanueva5,150, Manuel Villar Jr.5,370As of 4:36 p.m. Among the country COCs that have been canvassed were from Czech Republic, The Netherlands, North and South Korea, Japan, East Timor, the Vatican, Jordan, Qatar, Macau, China, Oman, Vietnam, Kuwait, and Myanmar.
Other votes came from Indonesia, Solomon Islands, Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Palau, Saipan, Russia (Moscow), Lebanon, Israel, Yemen, Turkey, Cyprus, Greece (Athens), United Arab Emirates, Norway, Iceland, Taiwan, Italy, Bahrain, and Egypt.
Leading Aquino got 30,173 votes; followed by Senator Manuel Villar Jr. with 5,377; Eddie Villanueva with 5,150; Gilberto Teodoro Jr., 4,624; former President Joseph Estrada, 3,061; Senator Richard Gordon, 2,319; JC delos Reyes, 139; Senator Jamby Madrigal, 110; Nicanor Perlas, 87 and disqualified Vetallano Acosta with 49 votes. In the vice presidential race, Roxas received 28,439 votes, followed by Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay with 7,085; Senator Loren Legarda, 6,311; Bayani Fernando, 3,458; Perfecto Yasay, 3,353; Edu Manzano, 1,135; Jay Sonza, 333, and Dominador Chipeco, 142.
