Newly appointed Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) General Manager Nicholas Torre III on Monday met with MMDA Chairman Don Artes and key agency officials to discuss his role, ongoing operations, and immediate priorities, particularly in traffic management, flood control, and waste management across Metro Manila.
The meeting aimed to define Torre’s responsibilities as the agency’s new general manager and ensure the full support of MMDA personnel. Artes said that about 70 to 80 percent of the agency’s operational matters would fall directly under Torre’s oversight.
“General Torre will be in charge of daily operations and will basically run the agency,” Artes said, adding that the meeting also served as an opportunity for Torre to clarify functions with the Department of Transportation and other government partners.
Torre, a former Philippine National Police chief and a presidential appointee, said that while he is new to the agency, most of its programs are already in place. He noted that his focus would be on long-standing concerns such as traffic congestion, flood mitigation, and solid waste management, while emphasizing that all roles in government service carry equal importance.
“This is another era of public service,” Torre said. “I am a government public servant, a presidential appointee, and I view the government machinery as a team. There is no big or small role — all of it is public service.”
Artes also said the discussions covered efforts to strengthen traffic enforcement and management, including addressing disciplinary issues among traffic enforcers. Under Torre’s leadership, the MMDA will pursue stricter investigations into enforcement lapses through its Special Investigation Office to ensure accountability among erring personnel.
The briefing further tackled flood control coordination with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and infrastructure planning. Torre pushed for earlier MMDA involvement in project planning, execution, and implementation. Artes added that Torre had already instructed officials to ensure that agreements with partner agencies are properly documented and reported.
Torre, who was appointed MMDA general manager in December 2025, will also serve as the agency’s spokesperson, according to Artes.