Dizon tells transport execs to resign

MANILA, Philippines — Newly appointed Department of Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon has directed key officials of the DOTr to submit their courtesy resignations by Feb. 26.

Undersecretaries, assistant secretaries and directors of the DOTr have been ordered to resign after Jaime Bautista stepped down as transport chief due to health reasons.

Light Rail Transit Authority administrator Hernando Cabrera and Philippine National Railways chairman Michael Macapagal did not comment on Dizon’s memorandum dated Monday.

The management of the Metro Rail Transit has yet to respond.

Dizon served as president of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority. He played a key role in the Duterte administration as deputy chief implementer of the National Task Force Against COVID-19.

Cashless tolls suspended

Meanwhile, the suspension of cashless collection across all tollways is being supported by the Metro Pacific Tollways Corp.

The MPTC will comply with the DOTr’s directive to suspend the implementation of cashless toll collection on March 15.

“We respect the DOTr’s decision to suspend mandatory cashless toll collection to prioritize ensuring efficiency and reliability for the motoring public,” the MPTC said.