(DC file photo)
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) General Manager Nicolas Torre III questioned the grammatical errors appearing in photos of protest posters circulating on social media, stressing the importance of proofreading and verifying materials before making them public.
In a Facebook post, Torre said he initially believed the photos had been digitally altered. However, he questioned how the apparent mistakes could have gone unnoticed if the posters were authentic and had already been printed in large quantities.
Torre recalled an experience during his previous assignment in Region 12, when he reviewed an annual report that was nearly a ream of paper thick.
He said he discovered an error involving the use of “is” and “are” in the middle of the document, prompting him to return the entire report for correction.
According to Torre, his former superior once questioned the credibility of the report because of the grammatical mistake.
“How can I trust the data you’re saying there, it’s just simple grammar that you can’t fix?” Torre recalled his former boss telling him.
The MMDA official said he eventually understood the importance of the lesson, particularly when it comes to accuracy, attention to detail and accountability.
However, Torre clarified that having difficulty with English does not necessarily reflect a person’s intelligence or capabilities.
He emphasized that even simple materials, such as protest posters, should undergo proper review and quality checks before being reproduced and distributed.
Torre also questioned whether the demonstrators fully understood the causes they were advocating, citing the apparent errors in their protest materials.
His remarks followed the circulation of photos showing alleged grammatical mistakes on placards used during a demonstration.
The authenticity of the photos and the circumstances surrounding the preparation of the posters were not independently established.
