BF--mayors truce remains elusive

Reconciliation between Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Bayani Fernando and his critics among local executives of Metro Manila remains elusive as both sides refuse to take the initiative despite willingness to settle their differences.

Metro Mayors League (MML) spokesman and Pasay City Mayor Wenceslao "Peewee" Trinidad, one of several mayors who are in constant disagreement with the MMDA, revealed yesterday that it would be hard to come up with a compromise because they have no plans of making the first move and reach out to officials of the agency.

Reacting to the appeal of Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. for mayors reconcile with the MMDA chief, Trinidad said "there was no need for such call because we have always been here, waiting for the MMDA to coordinate every move it makes, being the operating body of the Metro Manila Council (MMC).

"They should be making the appeal to Chairman Fernando because we are not the problem here," Trinidad said in an interview.

Fernando earlier told The STAR that he would welcome a reconciliation with his critics at the MML provided that they make the first move, arguing it would be tantamount to asking forgiveness and admitting his mistakes if he were the one to initiate a reconciliation.

However, Trinidad argued that they had made moves to settle differences with MMDA in the past, but still no reconciliation has taken place. "We have always taken the initiative. He should make the first move this time," he stressed.

Despite his stand, Trinidad clarified that they have never been hostile toward the MMDA and denied reports that mayors are now planning to withdraw financial support to the agency.

"The withdrawal of five percent of annual budget of each local government unit in financial support to the MMDA cannot be done legally. The budget of the MMDA from LGUs is mandated by law so we cannot do anything about that," Trinidad, who is also a lawyer, explained.

Some mayors have ganged up on Fernando following an April 15 Supreme Court ruling that clarified the mandate of MMDA, specifically on its traffic operations in Metro Manila.

They appeared to have scored a victory thinking that the decision stripped the MMDA of its powers. The High Tribunal immediately clarified that the decision, which was handed down by the Second Division, was actually in favor of the MMDA and only upheld its Metropolitan Traffic Ticketing Scheme.

This clarification from the SC prompted the Metro mayors to temporarily suspend the creation of new ordinances and "observe the wisdom of the decision."

Fernando, for his part, claimed the same decision confirmed his administrative power as MMDA chief. "Being a Cabinet member, I have the executive prerogative to issue administrative orders relative to the enforcement of our program," he said in his weekly radio program on dzBB last Sunday.

With the apparent stalemate, Trinidad said they would set another meeting with all 17 members of the MML to further discuss the SC decision.

Bayani’s appeal

Meanwhile, Fernando called on his outright critics yesterday to avoid making unnecessary public appeals that could endanger his men on the field.

Fernando specifically referred to the "very dangerous call" of Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, one of his critics in the MML, urging victims of MMDA programs to come out and sue the MMDA official and his personnel.

"We are not doing anything wrong. We are just enforcing laws. And that statement is very unfair especially to our MMDA personnel in the field who might get hurt," he said.

Binay argued that before the MMDA can implement a project, there must be an ordinance from the MMC or city councils. Among the projects of MMDA that did not have supporting ordinance are Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program, or number coding scheme, sidewalk clearing operations, wet flag scheme, pink fences along EDSA, and the organized bus route scheme.