Daily Tribune
The appointment of Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon brought a sigh of relief to commuters, as he could be instrumental in resolving the delays that have prevented the Unified Grand Central Station from opening.
The common station project was intended to ease traffic congestion and improve the commuting experience. However, after 13 long years, it remains far from completion. While some parts are visible to passersby, progress has stalled, with no active construction taking place.
In a 15 November 2024 speech about public transportation, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. expressed his desire to have the common station project finished promptly.
Dizon, however, is faced with a herculean task, as experts in the railway business have stated that the contractor has demonstrated a lack of capability and experience in railway construction and electromechanical works, resulting in the project stalling. The core competence of the contractor lies in steel fabrication.
Experts have raised concerns about the safety and viability of the design, particularly the use of an all-steel viaduct structure. Changing the viaduct design to an all-steel column, instead of a combination of steel and concrete, poses risks of instability. The questioned viaduct structure was approved by the DoTr despite concerns raised by DoTr engineers and consultants.
The common station project is expected to remain idle, as the DoTr’s budget for the year does not include provisions to pursue and complete its construction. The Commission on Audit has already called out the DoTr over the delayed project.
Top bureau officials are still making every effort to control this key part of Metro Manila, pushing hard to replace an official who refuses to participate in a scheme of remitting payouts to national office executives.
Despite his commitment to good governance, his superiors continue to demand monthly kickbacks, sometimes even obliging him to send money weekly.
However, their attempt to replace him with a more compliant and corrupt appointee has been thwarted by his subordinates, who stand firmly behind his principled leadership — even going so far as to issue manifestos of support.
In another attempt to replace this good official, the national office trimmed down the list of nominees for the position to just two names: one being the current official, and the other their own pick, whom they hoped would be appointed.
Unbeknownst to the greedy bureau officials, the appointing authority had already given its support to the straightforward official.
