EDITORIAL - A full-time manager

An officer-in-charge has been designated, but it will be better if Malacañang can quickly name a permanent replacement for Francis Tolentino, who has resigned as chairman of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority to concentrate on his Senate bid.

The powers of the MMDA chief, a presidential appointee, are eroded enough by the authority of the elected mayors of Metro Manila. Having an OIC running the MMDA can further weaken the ability of the agency to carry out its tasks, which are considerable. The MMDA is in charge of flood control and, outside the chokepoints along EDSA, coordination of traffic management all over Metro Manila. The agency also has a role in coordinating garbage collection and disposal.

Having a new individual firmly in charge is important especially with preparations in full swing for Manila’s hosting of the annual leaders’ summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. The nation must put its best foot forward for APEC, and this can become complicated if lines of authority are not clear.

Better coordination is also needed with the approach of the Christmas season and the expected buildup of cargo traffic in the Port of Manila. Businessmen have warned that last year’s port congestion could recur.

Before ribald entertainment at a Liberal Party gathering compelled Tolentino to rethink his Senate bid under the LP, he had already received flak for inefficient traffic management and distractions from his job. President Aquino must see to it that the new MMDA chief will not be distracted by partisan politics and will be fully focused on his work. Metro Manila is a mess, and it needs a full-time, capable manager whose mind isn’t on election day 2016.