(Eagle News)– President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, July 22, ordered Interior Secretary Eduardo Año to suspend local government officials who do not ensure the “speedy and smooth flow” of traffic in their areas of jurisdiction after a period of time.
In his State of the Nation Address, Duterte said these officials, after all, along with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, should “undertake immediate action” to address the vehicular congestion problem.
“Reclaim all public roads that are being used for private ends,” Duterte said.
According to Duterte, some local government officials “just keep on pleasing their own constituents just because they are constituents.”
“And again I asked Secretary Año to see to it that this is enforced. If there is a mayor or a governor or kung ano kang–sino kang demonyo ka, isuspend mo Sir Año,” Duterte said.
“Give him time and if he cannot — if he is not up to it, then pagpahingain mo nalang,” Duterte added.
Earlier, Duterte asked for funds for projects that would address vehicular congestion, but Senator Grace Poe expressed suspicion a part of the large amount would be lost to corruption.
“In Congress, Grace Poe made a comment. She said: ‘That amount of money is just too big. We might lose all that money to corruption.’ So when I heard it — we don’t know each other that well — I told the Congress: ‘Never mind. I will not ask for money anymore, forget it,'” Duterte then retorted.