DOTr: Business as usual amid move to Clark, Pampanga

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Friday said its operations were not hampered despite the transfer of its central office to Clark, Pampanga.

"Business as usual ang DOTr central office. Sa katunayan, Secretary [Arthur] Tugade had a full day of meeting ngayong araw na ito at talaga namang productive despite [na] ito ang aming first day sa aming new office sa Clark," DOTr spokesperson and assistant secretary for legal affairs Leah Quiambao said in an interview on GMA News TV's QRT.

The first batch of DOTr employees, which include those from the Offices of the Secretary and Undersecretaries and Quiambao's office, were transferred to Clark on Friday, while other employees are still at the headquarters in Columbia Tower in Mandaluyong City.

"Yung mga ibang opisina na tumatanggap ng mga transaction kung saan pupunta ang ating mga kababayan  para mag-follow-up or mag-transact  ng mga businesses ay maiiwan pa rin sa Maynila," Quiambao said.

The DOTr said that the decision to transfer was in line with the efforts to "decongest Metro Manila, reduce travel time and improve travel of motorists, and help boost development in its peripheries."

Quiambao said that they are aiming to complete the transfer by the end of the year.

"Over time, before year-end, we envision na ma-complete na yung transfer ng lahat ng opisina ng DOTr dito sa Clark," she said.

Meanwhile, the said move is being protested by some employees of the DOTr. Quiambao said such complaints were unavoidable since employees would be taken out of their comfort zone.

"Ang lagi nga namin sinasabi sa bawat pagbabago kasi meron talagang adjustment, diba. If it is to take people out of their comfort zone, mayroon talagang discomfort," she said.

She added that measures such as free shuttle service to and from Clark would be provided to the employees.

On the other hand, those who do not want to transfer to Clark are free to move in other attached agencies, Quiambao said.

"May mga binibigay naman kaming mga measures para ma-address yung mga concerns nila, yung mga fears nila sa paglipat sa Clark. Ang aming communication line ay laging bukas sa employee association kung meron pa po kaming maidadagdag o maibibigay na ikabubuti ng kanilang kalagayan para sa paglipat dito ay amin po ng maibibigay sa kanila," she said.

"May shuttle service kami at meron din kaming pinapatupad na flexi time at four-day work week at kung talagang hindi kaya na lumipat sa Clark, pwede namang po silang lumipat sa other DOTr attached agencies," she added. — Marlly Rome C. Bondoc/MDM, GMA News