J Art Tugade named LTO chief, says DOTr secretary Bautista

Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista on Monday announced the appointment of lawyer Jose Arturo Maddela Tugade as chief of the Land Transportation Office (LTO).

Malacañang earlier said Tugade was named as acting general manager of the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA).

In a statement, Bautista said Tugade, son of former Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, is "best suited for the very challenging job in the LTO."

"With his experience in management and litigation, I believe that he will make a difference in the LTO with the many problems and controversies being faced by the agency," Bautista said.

"When I talked to Atty. Tugade after the announcement, we both discussed how we can better serve the DOTr. It was then that we realized that he is better suited to the LTO," he added.

The DOTr chief said he asked President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. as regards the matter.

"We immediately asked the indulgence of the President and explained the gravity of the situation in the LTO and the importance of the work that has to be done as well as the willingness of Atty J Art to do it," Marcos said.

"In the end, the President understood the situation," he added.

The Palace has yet to release a statement yet on Tugade's post at the LTO. 

Bautista said Assistant Secretary Teofilo Guadiz would take the post as Assistant Secretary for the Road Sector of the DOTr. -NB, GMA Integrated News