(Eagle News)–Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade has denied allegations he and other Cabinet members were on a trip to Japan with President Rodrigo Duterte as a reward vacation for the results of the midterm polls that were favorable to the administration.
In an interview in Tokyo with Mindavote posted on the Department of Transportation Facebook page, Tugade said in the first place, President Duterte did not allow them to campaign for the elections.
“Ano ipapabuya sa amin? Sino magbibigay ng pabuya. Napakalaking kataranta*uh*n naman yan,” Tugade said.
According to the Transportation secretary, in his case, he did not “even” see the room where he was to stay for the duration of the trip until past 11 p.m., more than nine hours after their arrival in the country on Tuesday, May 28.
He said this was because upon his arrival past 2 p.m., he attended a meeting around 3 p.m. that ended at 5:30 p.m.
He said he had another meeting that ended at 2 p.m. on that day.
A DOTr statement said the secretary, together with DOTr Undersecretary for Finance Garry De Guzman, has so far met with senior leaders of the Japan International Cooperation Agency to “discuss the implementation of Japanese-funded transportation infrastructure projects in the Philippines.”
Tugade, the statement said, also met with Taisei Corporation Chairman Takashi Yamauchi, Taisei Corporation President Yoshiyuki Murata, and D.M. Consunji Inc. President and COO Jorge Consunji at the Taisei Corp. Headquarters in Shinjuku, Tokyo.
“During the meeting, Secretary Tugade pushed Taisei Corporation and DMCI to accelerate the target date of completion of PNR Clark Phase 1 from 2022 to the last quarter of 2021,” the statement said.
According to the DOTr, once the rail segment is operational, travel time from Manila to Bulacan will be reduced from the current one hour and 30 minutes to just 35 minutes.
The secretary also met with officials from Sumitomo Corporation to discuss status updates on the MRT-3 rehabilitation and maintenance project, the DOTr said.
The agency said Sumitomo has already ordered “major parts and components for the MRT-3, and negotiated with its suppliers for faster delivery.”
The DOTr said Light Rail Vehicle parts will arrive in July, while tracks and signaling components will be delivered in August.
Tugade also met with representatives of Toyota Motor Corporation for “its possible participation in the government’s Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program.”
Toyota, the DOTr said, was also invited to join the roll-out of premium taxi fleets in the country.
During the Japan trip, the statement said Tugade and Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez also received a Letter of Intent from Marubeni Corporation and Japan Marine United Corporation, which, the agency said, “committed to aid in the development of the Philippines’ maritime safety capability, through provision of maritime expertise, particularly on the design and construction of ships.”
Tugade also joined Duterte in a roundtable discussion hosted by Department of Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat.
“Bakasyon ho ba yan?Kung bakasyon yan, hindi ko na alam kung ano ibig sabihin ng trabaho,” Tugade said.
