DOTr spokeswoman: Employees free to transfer to attached agencies

Employees of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) who do not want to transfer to the agency's new central office in Clark, Pampanga are free to move to other attached agencies.

In an interview on GMA News' "Balita Pilipinas Ngayon," DOTr Assistant Secretary Leah Quiambao for Legal Affairs said their employees could be detailed to the DOTr's sectoral agencies such as the Land Transportation Office (LTO), the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), the Maritime Industry Authority, and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

"Pwede silang lumipat sa ibang attached agencies ng DOTR, halimbawa sa LTO, sa LTFRB, pwede silang magpatransfer o magdetail doon without loss of their seniority lines or without diminution of salaries and benefits," Quiambao said.

"So inaayos po natin 'yan, so kumbaga hindi namin pinipilit na lahat lumipat. Meron pong option na maiwan sa Manila and they will be transferred or detailed to a DOTr attached agency," she added.

The first batch of DOTr employees were transferred to the new office in Clark on Friday.

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

Quiambao, who is also the spokesperson of the DOTr, assured their employees who want to remain assigned in Metro Manila that these agencies can fully accommodate them.

"Napakadami ng mga LTO offices, alam naman ninyo na per region may mga regional office, may district office, ganun din ang LTFRB at hindi lang 'yan, under the DOTR din ang Marina, marami po kaming attached agencies," she said.

"At ang atin pong tingnan na ang DOTr central office ay hindi rin ganun kadami ang empleyado, 750 lang po ang empleyado ng DOTr, so kung meron mang bilang doon na may kagustuhan na lumipat sa attached agencies ay magagawan naman yun ng paraan," she added. — MDM/KVD, GMA News