2 lawmakers, MMDA clash over road clearing ops

MANILA, Philippines — Two lawmakers tried to stop a road clearing operation of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) in downtown Manila yesterday.

Reps. Rolando Valeriano of District 2 and Joel Chua of District 3 rushed to the site of the operation along Fugoso street in Sta. Cruz after affected motorists sought assistance, according to radio reports.

Chua, who proposed before the House of Representatives the abolition of the MMDA as part of the Marcos administration’s rightsizing policy, condemned the agency for taking away or towing parked vehicles that he said were owned by drivers trying to make a living.

He also claimed the MMDA did not coordinate its road-clearing operation with the city government and the barangays.

While the MMDA is in charge of removing obstructions along mabuhay lanes, the agency extended its operations to secondary roads and alleys, Chua said, citing Natividad street, which he said is not a mabuhay lane.

“Bastusan na ang ginagawa ng MMDA (What the MMDA is doing is blatant disrespect),” he said.

The MMDA’s designated mabuhay lanes are alternate routes motorists may use to avoid congested major roads.

Chua accused the MMDA of abusing its power through clearing operations.

Valeriano said he would bring up before the House committee on Metro Manila development the complaints of local government officials against the MMDA.

Denial

Joel Polliarco, who leads the MMDA team that performed yesterday’s road clearing, maintained they contacted the Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau and eight barangays that covered the operation.

He also appealed to the lawmakers to understand that the MMDA aims to put order in Manila.

For his part, MMDA acting Chairman Romando Artes emphasized that the city government helps the MMDA when it conducts road-clearing operations.

He said the city council has passed on second reading an ordinance amending its traffic policy, which included the enforcement of the single ticketing system that the MMDA has been advocating.

Artes said the MMDA acts on reports either from the 8888 hotline in the Office of the President and from complaints on social media.

“Every time there is an endorsement, we are required to report the actions we made there,” he said.

Artes said he also ordered field personnel to exercise maximum tolerance during road-clearing operations.