Resigned MMDA chair Benhur Abalos (left) with designated MMDA OIC general manager Romando Artes (right). (Photo courtesy of MMDA PIO/Mary Ann Tanbio)
WITH the campaign period for the national and local elections scheduled on May 9 this year, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will need a new administrator after its current chairman Benjamin ‘Benhur’ Abalos, Jr. announced that he is resigning from his post as chairman and he has already sent a letter of resignation to President Rodrigo Duterte.
In his letter, Abalos said: “I would like to announce that I am resigning as MMDA Chairman effective the end of business hours of February 7, 2022. I have submitted my resignation letter to the President. It has been an honor and privilege to serve the Filipino people as MMDA chair.”
He feigned to looking forward to have a busy schedule to campaign for the UniTeam’s tandem of former senator Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. and Davao City lady mayor Inday Sara Duterte-Carpio who are running for president and vice president, respectively.
“The campaign period is fast approaching and I would need to devote my time to Senator Bongbong Marcos’ campaign as his national campaign manager. While I am extremely saddened by this, I wish the agency success in its every program, project, and initiative for the betterment of the metropolis,” the outgoing MMDA chairman pointed out while also announcing that he has designated incumbent MMDA general manager Romando Artes as the agency’s officer-in-charge, pending the appointment of the next MMDA chairman by Malacañang.
“GM Artes is a lawyer. He knows everything. However, let me reiterate that the President has the prerogative to appoint the next chairman of the MMDA,” he enthused to give credence to his choice of temporary replacement in the agency.
Abalos likewise emphasized that he is thankful to President Rodrigo Duterte for the appointment.
“I thanked President Duterte for his full trust and confidence in me, most especially for believing in my capability to lead the MMDA,” he spelled out in deep gratitude. Abalos, a lawyer, served as MMDA chief for more than a year, replacing the late chairman Danilo Lim who passed away in January last year. Since his appointment, Abalos demonstrated his passion and dedication for his job as head of the MMDA which administers the country’s capital with more than 12 million residents.
He has led a significant number of programs and projects carrying out the mandates of the agency under Republic Act No. 7924, among which are government’s pandemic response of the National Capital Region (NCR) and the policies initiated through the Metro Manila Council (MMC) to further decrease the number of Covid-19 cases towards eventual herd immunity in the metropolis.
