Ria Atayde recruited by MMDA acting chair as next spox

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 19) — Actress Ria Atayde was "personally recruited" by Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) acting chairperson Don Artes as the next spokesperson of the agency.

Artes on Friday said incumbent spokesperson Melissa Carunungan is just acting in an officer-in-charge capacity.

He added that Atayde accepted the offer, and he already submitted her application and endorsement to Malacañang.

"Insofar as qualifications are concerned, she is a communications graduate sa La Salle. I think yung work experience naman niya ay suited sa pagiging spokesperson at yung pagiging celebrity niya ay beneficial sa agency insofar as information dissemination is concerned," he said in a press briefing.

[Translation: Insofar as qualifications are concerned, she is a communications graduate of La Salle. I think her work experience is suited for the spokesperson role and being a celebrity would benefit the agency insofar as information dissemination is concerned.]

Atayde is the sister of actor Arjo Atayde, who is currently Quezon City 1st district representative.

The MMDA acting chief also noted that the actress knows how to handle criticisms well, which is among the responsibilities of the agency's spokesperson.

"She is an empowered woman na kailangan ng ahensya dahil alam naman natin hindi lamang kasama sa trabaho ng spokesperson ang salagin ang lahat ng batikos dito sa agency whether or not totoo," he explained.

[Translation: She is an empowered woman that this agency needs because it is part of a spokesperson's role to handle criticisms whether they are true or not.]