Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Atty. Romando “Don” Artes said the agency is fully open to the lifestyle checks ordered by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., assuring the public that he has “nothing to hide.”
Speaking in an exclusive interview on DZRH's Dos Por Dos, Artes revealed that he has already undergone two lifestyle checks conducted by the Office of the Ombudsman in 2022 and 2024 after complaints were filed against him. Both times, he said, the investigations found no irregularities.
“Kami naman po ay open sa lifestyle check, magcocooperate po kami diyan at magcocomply po kami sa kautusan ng Pangulo. Wala naman po kaming itinatago. Mayroon po kaming SALN na sinasubmit at yun ay open for scrutiny,” Artes explained.
He added that MMDA officials regularly submit their SALNs to the agency’s human resources office, which then forwards the documents to the Ombudsman. Requests for copies, he noted, should also be coursed through the Ombudsman.
"In fact, ako po ay nag-undergo na ng dalawang lifestyle check. Sa ombudsman noong 2022 and 2024," he said.
When asked why he underwent a lifestyle check, Artes said it stemmed from a complaint filed against him but "nothing irregular was found.
"Chineck po yung mga ari-arian na nakadeclare sa akin pong SAL. Tiningnan kung may mga assets na hindi ko nadeclare sa tingin nila ay posibleng na-acquire because of the appointment sa posisyon. At naapprove ko namna po iyon na lahat po ng assets ko ay na-acquire ko before pa ako na-appoint sa MMDA," he explained.
Aside from addressing lifestyle checks, Artes also clarified the MMDA’s role in flood control projects.
He explained that the agency’s ₱2-billion budget for 2025 covers only two aspects: the operation and maintenance of 71 pumping stations across Metro Manila, and the clearing of waterways to ensure proper water flow.
“Unang-una po dyan ay yung pong operation ng mga pump stations namin. 71 po yan. So nakapanood po dyan yung sweldo ng tao, gasolina or diesel or kuryente, at yung mga minor maintenance ng aming mga pump stations may operate,” Artes said.
"Pangalawa po dyan sa component na yan ay yung mga clearing po ng waterways to ensure na dinadiretso po yung galaw ng tubig papunta po sa aming mga pump stations," he added.
He added that the MMDA continues to push for a comprehensive drainage master plan for Metro Manila, noting that the absence of a unified blueprint often leads to mismatched or poorly connected local flood control projects.
Click here to watch MMDA Chairman Don Artes’ full interview.
