Most inept Aquino functionary now campaigning for Senate seat
OF ALL the despicable functionaries of the Aquino administration, the most notoriously inept seems to be Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chair Francis Tolentino. While Metro Manilans never expected him to “part the Red Sea,” they had hoped he would at least make traffic along Edsa less unbearable by enforcing discipline among the most “pasaway” bus drivers who lord it over this main artery linking north and south. Neal H. Cruz summed up everyone’s frustrations in his
July 8 column: “It is now five years since Tolentino was appointed to head the MMDA and solve the traffic problems in the metropolis. But the traffic situation has not improved. On the contrary, it has gotten worse.”
That Tolentino and his minions are so inutile in the face of the bus drivers’ defiance of all traffic rules speaks volumes of the man’s shameful incompetence. Choke points along Edsa have long been identified; many of these are where buses hog practically all the lanes to load or unload passengers. In such situations, MMDA personnel just either look the other way or disappear. And if anyone ever tries to reach Tolentino to complain, he is never around. Nowadays, he is frequently out of town—to campaign for next year’s senatorial elections! What nerve! To paraphrase P-Noy, saan kumukuha ng kapal na mukha ang isang ito?
Now comes this idiotic idea of his: To buy dozens of high-end motorcycles (P500,000 each) to be used in the MMDA escort services for Apec delegates this year. Comparing it to an earlier crazy idea of his to buy adult diapers for MMDA personnel during Pope Francis’ visit last January, one cannot but wonder if the guy needs professional help! Just as his diapers became no more than a laughingstock, those very expensive bikes will only showcase our pretentiousness as a Third World country!
Those Apec delegates will spend only a day or two in Metro Manila. Most of their activities will be done elsewhere (Bataan, Boracay, Tagaytay, Cebu, Iloilo, etc.) and therefore outside the MMDA’s area of responsibility. What will Tolentino do with those bikes then? Use them as his own escorts on his Senate campaign spree?
MMDA vehicles have already been spotted straying into faraway places in the archipelago where the MMDA chief had “speaking engagements”! Given his carefree and wanton tendency to spend public funds under the most ridiculous pretext, imagine what Tolentino will do with his annual “pork barrel” and other perks should he win a Senate seat!
To all decent Filipino voters: Let’s junk Tolentino!
—MARITES DELA MERCED, [email protected]
