The Alliance of Concerned Transport Organizations (ACTO), a major transport group, appealed to President-elect Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III to retain Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Oscar Inocentes.

Efren de Luna, ACTO president, said his group is fully supportive of the retention of Inocentes at the helm of MMDA, citing his good performance as well as his brand of leadership.

“Kami sa ACTO ay nananawagan na panatilihin ni Noynoy si Inocentes sa MMDA (We, from ACTO, appeal to Noynoy to keep Inocentes in the MMDA),” said group president Efren de Luna. ACTO claims to have a membership of 365,000 jeepney drivers and operators nationwide.

De Luna pointed out that Inocentes, a former trial court judge, has been doing a good job, including keeping harmonious relationship between the MMDA and the Metro Manila Council (MMC), composed of all 17 metro mayors.

MMC is the policy-making body of MMDA.

“Magkakasundo ngayon ang MMC at chairman. Iginagalang siya ng mga mayor. Kung magpatawag ng meeting dati ang MMDA chairman ay walang sumisipot na mayor (The MMC and the chairman are in good terms. The mayors respect him. Back then, when the former MMDA chairman would call for a meeting, the mayors don’t attend).”

The people will surely benefit from good working relations between the MMDA chairman and the MMC, said de Luna.

According to the transport group head, the installation of a new president should not necessarily mean a full sweep of incumbents government officials.

“Dapat ay kumporme sa naging performance ng tao kung kailangan siyang tanggalin sa puwesto (The person’s performance should determine if he/she must be replaced).”

The ACTO head noted that Inocentes has successfully ironed out the kinks on the complex and overlapping single ticketing system, and that they are now only waiting for the penalty system to be crafted.

“Natutugunan niya ang mga problema at sensitive siya sa transport sector (He addresses problems and is sensitive to the transport sector). Nagagamit niya ang kanyang eksperyensa bilang hukom sa MMDA lalo na sa legal na aspeto (He’s been able to use his experience as a judge in the MMDA especially in the legal aspects),” said De Luna.