After MIAA appointment, Tugade named LTO chief

0
814
Transport Secretary Jaime Bautista (left) and newly-appointed Land Transportation Office chief Jose Arturo Tugade. Photo from DOTr.
  • Atty. Jose Art Tugade is the new chief of the Land Transportation Office
  • Tugade, son of former Transport chief Arthur Tugade, was earlier named acting GM and CEO of Manila International Airport Authority
  • He never assumed office at MIAA
  • Transport Secretary Jaime Bautista said Tugade is “better suited” at the LTO
  • Atty. Teofilo Guadiz III, who last July was appointed as LTO chief, will take on the position of assistant secretary for the road sector of the DOTr

Atty. Jose Arturo Tugade has been appointed as the new chief of the Land Transportation Office (LTO), the Department of Transportation (DOTr) confirmed.

This comes after Office of the Press Secretary officer-in-charge Cheloy Garafil on October 26 confirmed Tugade’s appointment as acting general manager and chief executive officer of Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), replacing Cesar Chiong.

READ: Ex transport chief Tugade’s son appointed acting MIAA general manager

Tugade never assumed office at the MIAA. Transportation officials told PortCalls Tugade’s “appointment” was a “miscommunication”. Chiong, meanwhile, continues to be the head of MIAA.

Transport Secretary Jaime Bautista in a statement on November 14 welcomed Tugade to the DOTr, saying: “While Atty. Tugade’s appointment was announced a few weeks ago, we have [come] to a conclusion that he is best suited for the very challenging job in the LTO.”

Bautista explained: “With his experience in management and litigation, I believe that he will make a difference in the LTO with the many problems and controversies being faced by the agency. When I talked to Atty Tugade after the announcement, we both discussed how we can better serve the DOTr. It was then that we realized that he is better suited to the LTO. We immediately asked the indulgence of the President and explained the gravity of the situation in the LTO and the importance of the work that has to be done as well as the willingness of Atty J Art to do it. In the end, the President understood the situation.”

Tugade is the son of former Transport Secretary Arthur Tugade, who served from 2016 to June 2022.

Atty. Teofilo Guadiz III, who last July was appointed as LTO chief, will take on the position of assistant secretary for the road sector of the DOTr.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR