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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Roque to TRB: 'Don't wait to be fired'

Roque to TRB: 'Don't wait to be fired'

Published Dec 17, 2020 03:05 pm

Malacañang told the officials at the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) not to wait for them to get fired over the traffic jam caused by the implementation of the Radio-frequency identification (RFID) system in tollways.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque (OPS / MANILA BULLETIN)

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque made the statement after President Duterte said he wants to fire the entire TRB over their incompetence that led to the horrendous traffic jam in Valenzuela City due to the NLEX Corporation's shift to a fully cashless transactions system.

In his Thursday presser, Roque said that the President was clear in his warning to the TRB.

"He was clear: 'Wag na sigurong maghintay na sibakin. Kinakailangang mag-resign ng mga inkompetente (Do not wait for you to get fired. The incompetent ones should resign)," he said.

Roque said that Duterte's warning goes to all government officials.

"That's a warning to everyone. Kung hindi niyo kayang gawin ang trabaho niyo, mag-resign na kayo. 'Wag na kayong maghintay na sibakin kayo (If you cannot do your job properly, just resign. Don't wait for you to get fired)," he said.

On Wednesday evening, a visibly irked President Duterte said he cannot blame the toll operators for the fiasco because it was the TRB's job to make sure that the new system will have no glitches.

"Hindi ko masisi itong sina Ramon Ang because meron tayong regulator. Ang problema, ang mga regulator (I cannot blame the people like Ramon Ang because we have regulators. But the problem is our regulator), is another set of incompetent people," he said.

"They should not have allowed the system right now to put into use without a trial run for about one week. Titignan nila (They will look into it) and anticipate what could be the problem," he added.

President Duterte asked Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade if could just fire the entire TRB and replace them with people with more experience because they do not seem to know how to be regulators. He even suggested for Tugade to hire a retired military official.

"Can I fire them? Palitan ko na lang lahat. Yung may experience na. Yung dumaan na administrasyon (I'll just replace them all. Someone with the experience, even from the previous administrations). I don't care if this is the time of Aquino or Arroyo," he said.

"Hindi ko matanggap ang incompetence kasi kami ang nasisisi (I cannot accept this kind of incompetence because we are the ones getting blamed)," he added.

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