Belmonte, Bayani ink MOA on QC footbridges

Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Bayani Fernando signed yesterday a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to fasttrack the construction of footbridges in the city.

"The MOA is to show the city government’s cooperation with the MMDA to coordinate and facilitate the construction of the footbridges," Belmonte told The STAR at the MMDA office after the MOA signing late yesterday afternoon.

Belmonte said the city government’s engineering department would help identify where to put the footbridges in major thoroughfares in Quezon City where traffic has become considerably faster for motorists because of the MMDA’s traffic schemes but dangerous to pedestrians.

"We will also help each other in sourcing the money for the footbridges," Belmonte added.

Moreover, the city government will help fasttrack the application for the required permits to build the structures.

The mayor said he had heard of complaints from pedestrians that it has lately been difficult and dangerous to cross Quezon Avenue and Commonwealth Avenue because of the MMDA’s clearway scheme.

The MOA noted that President Arroyo has already released funds for the construction of the footbridges.

MMDA officials said P100 million has already been released by the Office of the President.

For his part, Fernando asked the public to remain patient because the footbridges will be coming soon.

"Some of them are already being made at the shops," he said.

Fernando said the footbridges at the corner of EDSA and Aurora Boulevard would be inaugurated in early December.