MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Grace Poe on Monday hit Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya following the resumption of the Senate subcommittee on public services hearing on the Metro Rail Transit (MRT).
"Sa tingin ko we deserve a better DOTC secretary," Poe told members of the press after the hearing.
The senator noted that Abaya is "very intelligent" but pointed out that the country needs a DOTC secretary who would focus on the projects and deliver on time.
"Talagang napakaraming hindi nagampanan na trabaho at palaging pinabayaan lang o idinadaan sa proseso. Pero minsan kasi meron tayong proseso pero meron naman tayong sinasabi na maging pro-active naman tayo," Poe said.
Poe observed that Abaya was not actively involved in the MRT project, citing that Abaya and other MRT officials were uncertain of the details that caused the delay of the said project.
"Kung talagang gusto mong matapos 'yan bilang isang kalihim nasa sa ulo mo na kung kailan dapat ideliver 'yung mga bagay-bagay," the senator said.
The senator said that President Benigno Aquino III should appoint a DOTC secretary who is knowledgeable and has experience with the agency.
Abaya admitted that the government failed to deliver the failure of procurement and bidding caused the delay of the improvement of the MRT.
The DOTC chief, however, assured that the services of the MRT will be improved by the first quarter of 2016 with the arrival of new trains.
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