When Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez was asked what he wanted to say to Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery Ping Lacson, he said, “A man who’s unhappy about his job should walk away from it.”
According to an ANC report, Romualdez thinks that “Lacson is out of his depth in his current role and nowhere is this more evident than in his recommendation to move the Tacloban airport to Palo, Leyte.”
On the matter of the airport transfer, Romualdez explained that his exchanged with Lacson went like this:
Romualdez: “Please do not make announcements if you’re not yet sure.”
Lacson: “No, we’re sure. In fact, I recommended to the President!”
Romualdez: “Ano ang basis mo?”
Lacson: “Ang JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) gumawa ng study.”
The report noted: “Romualdez said he later got in touch with JICA personnel who denied that there was such a study.”
“So, kinausap ko ang JICA sabi nila wala kaming study na ginagawa tungkol sa paglipat ng airport,” revealed Romualdez.
The mayor went on to say, “That’s why I agree with DPWH Sec. Singson when he says it takes 10 years even to study the transfer of an airport. You have to study the wind direction, the mountains, and the terrain. Maraming kino-consider for the safety of the passengers.”
Photo: ANC video screengrab
