Department of Transportation and Communications Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya. Joseph Vidal/PRIB
Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya played down on Monday the renewed resignation calls by some senators for his alleged failure to address the many problems hounding the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), which he heads.
鈥淎gain, sinasabi ko, serving in government is really a privilege not even a right so therefore, pwede namang alisin 鈥榶an maski anong oras po (it can be taken away any time),鈥� Abaya told reporters at the Senate when sought for a comment on Senator Francis 鈥淐hiz鈥� Escudero鈥檚 call that he should be fired from his post.
In calling for Abaya鈥檚 dismissal from office, Escudero cited the many issues hounding the DOTC, such as the poor Internet connection and exorbitant mobile fees, 鈥渢anim-bala鈥� (bullet-planting) scam, horrible MRT service, miserable airport facilities, and delays of license plates, car stickers, and driver鈥檚 license cards.
鈥淎gain, the privilege to serve the people is there; it continues to be a mere privilege for me,鈥� Abaya added.
Senator Grace Poe also backed the calls for Abaya鈥檚 resignation, saying the country deserves a 鈥渂etter DOTC Secretary.鈥�
鈥淎ko sa tingin ko, we deserve a better DOTC secretary. Perhaps Secretary Abaya is very intelligent; matalino siya pero sa tingin ko, kailangan natin hindi lamang ganyan o may kakayanan, kailangan talagang tinututukan yung proyekto para maka-deliver on time,鈥� Poe said in another interview, referring to the DOTC鈥檚 failure to address the MRT problems.
(I think that we deserve a better DOTC secretary. Perhaps Secretary Abaya is very intelligent; he鈥檚 smart but I think that we need someone who is not only smart or is able, we need someone who really gives his full attention on the project in order to deliver on time.)
鈥淎ng ibang sinasabi, maikli na lang ang panahon diyan, baka magkagulo pa 鈥榩ag nag-resign. Isa yung consideration, sinong pwedeng ipalit sa kanya鈥� Pero para sabihin kasi na tiisin na lang dahil ilang buwan na lang ang natitira, para bang sinasabi natin na ok lang. Siyempre, dapat din may pananagutan,鈥� she further said.
(Others say that he doesn鈥檛 have a lot of time left as a secretary, so there may be disorder if he resigns. Another consideration is who will replace him鈥� But in saying that we just need endure this just because he has a few months left, it鈥檚 like we鈥檙e saying it鈥檚 just okay. Of course, someone needs to be held responsible.) JE