30 March 2023
ROLANDO G. ESTABILLIO
Publisher
The Manila Standard
Dear Mr. Estabillio
Good day!
This is in reference to the article entitled, “Incompetence, possible corruption in Dimayuga’s MMDA written by Louis Barok Biraogo and published in print and online by The Manila Standard on March 24, 2023.
I would like to express my dismay over the said article as it seems to me that the information by Mr. Biraogo is outdated and not fact-checked. Hence, I would like to take this opportunity to clarify all the unfounded and malicious allegations against me in order to shed light on the matter at hand.
First and foremost, my given name is Carlo and not Carlos, I was appointed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. last August 1, 2022 as Acting Chairman of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA). The Adaptive Responsive Traffic Signal System (ARTSS) Program was approved in October 2012 and the advance traffic control system was also procured in the same year. In fact, the ARTSS program was already in the process of implementation during my appoinment as Acting Chair. Thus, the accusation that “Carlos Dimayuga III seems to have approved the ARTSS” is false. How would I approve a project that has already been existing for so many years?
Second, Mr. Biraogo seems to imply that no public bidding was done for the acquisition of the ARTSS. This is, again, simply false. As stated above, the project now is under implementation, the phases of bidding, awarding and proceeding was conducted since 2012 up until 2018 under Phases one to five of the project. Ergo, the public bidding done years back. If only Mr. Biraogo contacted the MMDA first, surely, he will get the necessary documents evidencing lawful procedure of bidding for the ARTSS.
Third, another malicious imputation of graft and corruption was thrown at me in relation to the QPax Traffic Systems, Inc. I would like to remind Mr. Biraogo that the No Contact Apprehension Program (NCAP), to which QPax Traffic Systems Inc. is the implementor, is actually a Public-Private Parthership contract of the LGUS with QPax. That being said, MMDA officials as well as myself have nothing to do with such arrangement since, as we all know, LGUs exercise local autonomy.
Last but not the least, I would like to think that Mr. Biraogo is out-of-the-loop by asking me to resign my post in the MMDA. I have been a private citizen since October 2022 when I was replaced by the current MMDA Chair Romando Artes. So, why is Mr. Biraogo asking for my resignation this March? Clearly, this development was overlooked either by Mr. Biraogo himself or the editors of The Manila Standard, or both.
Having cleared up all these by presenting you information and clarificatory statements. I’m leaving it to your best judgment in deciding what is the best course of action moving forward. Being a fighter for truth amid mis- and disinformation, I trust that you will set everything right.
Continue being truth crusaders and advocates of societal reform. More power.
Respectfully,
(sgd.) CARLO DIMAYUGA III
Former MMDA Chairman
COPY FURNISHED:
HONOR BLANCO CABIE
Opinion Editor
The Manila Standard
