Incoming DOTC chief Mar Roxas gives personal hotline for complaints

Even before he formally assumes his post on July 1, the incoming head of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) is already putting a personal touch to his work. Incoming Secretary Manuel Roxas II urged the public Wednesday to send their complaints to him through his text hotline. "(Ang cell phone number ko ay) 09176276927, i-text lang ninyo," he said in an interview on dzBB radio. On Tuesday, President Benigno Aquino III announced his appointment of Roxas as DOTC secretary to replace Jose de Jesus, whose resignation takes effect June 30. Roxas, who was defeated by Jejomar Binay in the vice presidential race last year, was originally groomed to be Aquino's presidential chief of staff. He said he is now studying the issues affecting the department. "Di tayo basta-basta papasok (I'm not going into this job unprepared)," he said. Among the issues he will study are the frequent malfunctions hounding the Light and Metro Rail Transit, whose management is also eyeing a fare hike. "Alamin natin una bakit umaaberya yan, baka kasi kulang sa pyesa o maintenance," he said. He also said that if there is a need to adjust fares, "malalaman ng riding public ano ang basehan kung kailangan magtaas (we will make sure the riding public understands why there is a need to raise fares)." Commuters taking the Metro Rail Transit (MRT-3) were inconvenienced Tuesday evening after an MRT coach stalled for nearly 15 minutes in southern Metro Manila. Light Rail Transit Authority spokesman Hernando Cabrera blamed the incident on a power fluctuation, according to a report by radio dzBB's Mao dela Cruz. Roxas said Aquino admitted being surprised by De Jesus' sudden resignation. But he said he accepted the post because he wanted Aquino's administration to succeed. "Tulad ng pangulo nabigla tayo (pero) naintindihan natin. Minsan kailangan atensyunan so pangulo ang nakaalam ng kabuuan (Like the president, I was surprised by the resignation but I understand why he tapped me for the DOTC on short notice. The president knows the bigger picture)," he said. — LBG, GMA News