Abalos confident MMDA will not be abolished

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr. expressed confidence yesterday that Congress would rule in favor of retaining the Authority, contrary to reports that its abolition is imminent.

Abalos cited the recent meeting of the Technical Working Group (TWG) created during the hearing on the abolition of the MMDA which discussed four options on what to do with the MMDA.

Three of the four options pertain to the strengthening of the MMDA namely: the conversion of the MMDA into a Regional Development Council; making Metro Manila into a province where a governor would be elected as the head, and the removal of housing, health and flood control from the responsibilities of the MMDA in order for it to focus on solid waste and traffic management. The fourth option presented before the TWG was the abolition of the MMDA.

Although an executive order is in the works to convert the MMDA into a regional development council, Congress believes that the move requires an amendment of the MMDA charter.

The four options were derived from the public hearings conducted by the Committee on the Revision of Laws and the Committee on Government Reorganization. According to Abalos, the presentation of three options in favor of the strengthening of the MMDA only shows that there is no truth about the overwhelming sentiment to abolish the agency.

"I am very happy that Congress will be deliberating on the matter of strengthening the MMDA because Metro Manila is still growing by leaps and bounds. It is also the main economic engine of Luzon," Abalos said.

The proposal to abolish MMDA was introduced by Valenzuela Rep. Magtanggol Gunigundo in a House Bill which he filed recently. – Marvin Sy