President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed lawyer Romando Artes as acting head of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).
According to Usec. Cheloy Garafil, officer-in-charge of the Office of the Press Secretary, Artes was named acting general manager of the MMDA, an agency he used to head during the term of President Rodrigo Duterte.
Malacañang, however, has yet to release a copy of Artes’ appointment papers.
It has also not disclosed the reason why the President replaced Carlo Dimayuga III, who was appointed acting MMDA head only in August.
A certified public accountant, Artes previously served as MMDA Assistant General Manager (AGM) for finance and administration in May 2017.
During his stint as the agency’s AGM, the Commission on Audit awarded an “unqualified opinion” to the MMDA in 2019 and 2021, which means financial statements are prepared in all material respects and in accordance with the applicable financial reporting framework.
Artes likewise led the MMDA COVID-19 committee that spearheaded the vaccination of its employees and their immediate families.
Prior to his stint in the MMDA, he was an accountant and lawyer in the City of Biñan in Laguna.
He also served as a political and legislative officer in the Senate and a consultant in the House of Representatives.
Artes graduated with a degree of Bachelor of Science in Commerce Major in Accountancy in 1993 and obtained his Bachelor of Laws in 1998 from San Beda College.
