(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte has fired two government officials for “sitting on papers” that were necessary for the construction of an infrastructure project for an entire year.
The President announced the dismissal of the two Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission officials in an interview aired over PTV 4 on Friday night.
“May dalawa dito na isang taon na halos ‘yung papel. At ‘yun pa namang papel na ‘yung construction firm, na siya ang gagawa ng bridge across San Juan… Ang sabi ko sa kanila, kasi madaliin nga. Ito, almost one day — one year rather — walang ginawa kung hindi mag-upo doon sa papeles,” he said, without mentioning names.
A press release posted on the Presidential Communications Operations Office website said the President was referring to the “needed documents” for the Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3 Project.
“Ang sinabi ko, bakit dumating sa panahon na ‘yan? Sabi nitong dalawa — kasi sila ‘yung sa Pasig River Commission — ‘You know, sir, we are trying to control ‘yung ano,’ kasi daw ang Pasig river, dapat daw may plano sila na aquatic resources, tapos hindi daw masyado flooding and everything, at saka you — to restore its pristine condition,” he said.
But Duterte did not buy their argument, and told them:“‘Bakit ‘yung tinagal na ‘yung mga ‘to restore aquatic resources,’ kailan ba mabuhay ‘yan? Lahat ng factories, binubuga nila ‘yang exhaust nila diyan sa Pasig river. And then you tell me that they were delayed by because you were studying?’”
He said he “did not like” what the two officials did, noting that it was a violation of his policy that papers should be acted on the soonest time possible–a maximum of 15 days for directors, and a maximum of one month for Cabinet members.
“Masama talaga ang ginawa nitong dalawa. It delayed the project. So, for almost so many months, nagmamadali nga tayo so that we can have the mobility of the people of Metro Manila moving faster. Itong dalawa, inupuan ‘yan almost one year,” he said.
He said the two officials sent him a letter of apology after he met them to ask them about the project delay.
But “…I’m telling them now — dito ngayon sa TV — I have fired you actually,” he added.