‘Iron-fisted’ Tugade to tackle traffic

Arthur Tugade. PHOTO BY E.I. REYMOND T. OREJAS/INQUIRER CENTRAL LUZON

MOTORISTS and commuters in the capital like to joke that “forever” exists, when you consider Metro Manila’s traffic-strangled roads. So it’s safe to say there are massive expectations for Arthur Tugade, the incoming head of the transportation department.

It’s still early days—the Duterte administration has yet to assume office—but we’re hearing encouraging things about Tugade from those close to him. In fact, as one of our sources pointed out, Tugade, a former CEO of state-run Clark Development Corp., is the “perfect” man for the job given his self-made business background and his apparently “iron-fisted” approach to getting things done.

True, he has personal and direct links to the incoming President, being his law school classmate, but Tugade’s supporters say his record should speak for itself.

He was also cited for his humility. Apparently, Tugade was at first reluctant to head this department but we hear he agreed after Duterte agreed to give his full support in terms of addressing the “emergency” traffic situation in Metro Manila. Hopefully that support goes a long way to fixing road congestion woes in the capital.

The outgoing administration could have done more to confront the issue, but then again it wasn’t all bad for them since it signaled a healthy, growing economy. So why are people still angry? Perhaps it’s because those “trickle down” benefits matter little when motorist and commuters see their hours trickle away into nothing while on the road. Miguel R. Camus