MMDA demolishes 2 barangay halls in Manila

MANILA, Philippines — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) demolished two barangay halls in Manila that were occupying the sidewalk or street.

MMDA chair Danny Lim and his men started demolishing the barangay halls in Barangays 641 and 643, Zone 66 near Malacañang at around 8 a.m. and finished the clearing operations two hours later.

“Instead of following and enforcing the law they are the ones who are violating it,” Lim said.

The MMDA chairman said the two barangays were given 14 days to demolish their respective barangay halls, which have been obstructing traffic, but they apparently ignored the agency’s order despite repeated warnings.

He said they are also targeting other barangay halls with the same violations.  

“We have no other recourse but to charge them with obstruction if they continue to defy our orders,” Lim added.

Barangay 643 chairman Edmund Gumogda said the MMDA’s decision to demolish their barangay offices will greatly affect security in the University Belt area.

He said the closed-circuit television system installed in the barangay hall were also removed, which could affect their monitoring of criminals who are usually victimizing students in their areas.

Gumogda said they will now have a hard time relocating to an area where they can be most effective in deterring street crimes.

Barangay 643 chairperson Rosadelia Paragas said they waited for MMDA workers to destroy the barangay hall since they do not have enough personnel and construction equipment.