Tugade welcomes appointment of ex-PAL president Bautista to DOTr

Outgoing Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade on Sunday welcomed the appointment of former Philippine Airlines (PAL) president Jaime Bautista as the next chief of the Department of Transportation (DOTr).

In a statement, Tugade urged the public to trust and support the decision of President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos in choosing Bautista.

“I personally know my successor, Jimmy Bautista. We have long years of association and friendship. His professionalism, experience, dedication, and hard work will certainly augur well in his being the Secretary of Transportation,” Tugade said.

He further said that he will assist Bautista in “best of my abilities and capabilities.”

“The DOTr Transition team is likewise exerting all efforts to ensure a smooth, full, and transparent transition - one of cooperation, one of support, and one that is geared in making the new administration successful,” Tugade added.

Bautista will replace Tugade as DOTr chief come June 30.

Bautista, a certified public accountant, had worked at PAL for 25 years and served as the airlines' president for 13 years before his retirement in 2019. —LBG, GMA News