President Rodrigo Duterte appointed lawyer Romando Artes as the new general manager of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.
Artes, who served as the MMDA assistant general manager for finance and administration replaced Jose Arturo Garcia Jr. who resigned on Oct. 4 to run as the first lawmaker for the 3rd District of Rizal province, the San Mateo, in the May 9, 2022, national elections.
Artes assured the public that the programs and projects being undertaken by the agency will continue, “as I work hand in hand with Chairman Benhur Abalos and the entire MMDA workforce amid our gradual shift to the new normal brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Artes said the opportunity given to him is enough motivation to continue initiating reforms and commitment to assist the chairman in the formulation of projects, resolutions, ordinances, and regulations for Metro Manila, pushing for sustainable development of the National Capital Region and further improve people’s lives.
Aside from Garcia, MMDA spokesperson Assistant Secretary Pircelyn Pialago also announced her departure from the agency effective Oct. 1 to focus on her candidacy for a party-list slot.
Newly-appointed Acting Secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Roger Mercado meanwhile vowed to continue and hasten the completion of major infrastructure projects of the Duterte administration under its “Build, Build, Build” project.
Mercado was appointed by Duterte who formally assumed the agency leadership from former public works Secretary Mark Villar during a turnover ceremony at the DPWH Central Office in Manila. Duterte signed Mercado’s appointment paper on October 12..
The new DPWH chef is a lawyer by profession who hails from Maasin City, Southern Leyte, and is known for his Tourism, Environmental Protection, and Agriculture programs in his province when he was Southern Leyte’s lone district representative. With Vito Barcelo