NAME ALMENDRAS AS PORT CZAR Rep. Winston “Winnie” Castelo (Liberal Party, 2nd District of Quezon City) today urged President Benigno Aquino III to name Cabinet Secretary Rene Almendras as the concurrent port czar, saying the latter possesses the essential qualities to resolve the issues confronting the Manila port of entry and other major ports. “Secretary Almendras knows the port issues, enjoys the President’s confidence, and possesses the moral ascendancy and authority to summon heads of state agencies and local government units, and other stakeholders,” said Castelo, who chairs the House committee on Metro Manila development. “Secretary Almendras is an even-tempered state functionary, who can work practically with everybody. He is result-oriented and hardworking too,” Castelo said. Castelo recalled that in the previous committee public hearings he chaired, Almendras displayed sufficient knowledge on those port issues and the consequent traffic congestion in Metro Manila. Almendras also showed the political will to resolve them in the soonest time possible, demonstrating effectiveness under the most difficult circumstances. He has the ability to convince people to work in harmony with other people on many nagging issues that confront the country. He is the proverbial lion-tamer, who could influence people to work hard toward a common goal, Castelo said. Almendras has shown the people what could be described the grace under pressure, which is an essential quality for a port czar, who would enjoy the plenary powers to resolve the problems confronting the Manila port and the major ports near Metro Manila like the ports of Batangas City and Subic, Zambales, Castelo said. Castelo made the statement even as port stakeholders held a one-day summit, where they suggested the immediate appointment of a port czar, who would handle the issue of port congestion arising from policy difficulties. The port summit also addressed the issue of severe traffic jams arising from port congestion and stakeholders also suggested ways to ease the traffic flow. #
Posted on: Tue, 18 Nov 2014 06:42:44 +0000
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