Palace defends painting MMDA structures green

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang has no objections to a plan by Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Oscar Inocentes to change the MMDA’s structures and facilities from pink to green under the agency’s “Metro Green” project.

Deputy presidential spokesman Gary Olivar said green “evokes the environment, ecology and conservation” and is generally “not a bad color.”

“I would not want to discourage this decision if this is in fact what the MMDA wants to do,” he said.

Olivar said the color choice – administration standard-bearer Gilberto Teodoro Jr. has adopted green as his signature color – is coincidental, but if it ends up helping Teodoro, “we should probably appreciate that consequence happening.”

Teodoro has continued to fare poorly in surveys, placing a consistent fourth behind his opponents.

Malacañang remains confident that Teodoro’s ratings would go up once he gains more exposure, particularly outside Metro Manila.

Vice presidential candidate Bayani Fernando erected pink barriers, fences, pedestrian overpasses, urinals and plant boxes during his term as MMDA chief. Critics said his color choice did not adhere to international standards for road signs and structures.

Critics also said he is using pink to further his political career and that of his wife, Marikina City Mayor Marides Fernando, noting that the city government uses pink as the color of its public structures and facilities and the color has long been identified with the Fernandos.

Fernando said at a forum in Manila yesterday that he feels flattered that the new MMDA management is working hard to “erase” him from the agency’s history.

He said he does not feel bitter that most of the projects done during his term are now being re-evaluated and changed by Inocentes, though he noted that the changes need not be costly.

“It’s okay by me. We all have ideas. Maybe their idea is better. They should wait for the paint to fade before painting (the structures) over,” Fernando said.

He said his favorite color is blue, not pink, but admitted that pink has “now become a political color. If you see pink, it’s Bayani Fernando for vice president.”

Nacianceno said the existing MMDA fences and urinals that need repainting will also be repainted green, or in shades of green, in keeping with the theme.

“We are going green to emphasize to the people the need to protect the environment and to call attention to the issue of global warming,” he said.

Nacianceno denied allegations that politics is behind the Metro Green project.

“Not all structures will be painted green. Only the new ones which will be constructed and those which needs repainting,” he said.

Nacianceno, however, admitted that green is Inocentes’ favorite color because the MMDA chairman is a “gentleman farmer.”

Aside from repainting some MMDA structures green, the MMDA is also embarking on a massive planting program, particularly around the airport area as part of its current theme. – With Mike Frialde, Jose Rodel Clapano