MMDA gets tough on defiant vehicle owners

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has assigned its legal representatives to join MMDA teams that are clearing streets of illegally parked vehicles to deal with defiant vehicle owners.

Bong Nebrija, MMDA supervising operations, said there are people, among them government officials, who refuse to remove vehicles that block the flow of traffic.

"Personalities disrespect our men, who are in uniform. They try to intimidate our men who are only doing their task," said Nebrija.

Despite tarpaulins and signage, motorists keep defying their teams and park at designated tow-away zones.

Nebrija said MMDA officer-in-charge Tim Orbos has tasked the legal team to accompany them to prevent a confrontation between motorists and traffic enforcers.

The agency’s legal department recently filed administrative cases before the Office of the Ombudsman against at least seven barangay chairmen for failure to clear the streets that were already cleared by MMDA of obstructions.

The agency had called on lawyers to help it handle cases against barangay officials who tolerate illegally parked vehicles and other road obstructions.

“We encourage all lawyers to help us in our fight against negligent barangay officials. We cannot do it alone as we lack manpower and resources,” Orbos said.

“We have stepped up our anti-illegal parking and sidewalk clearing operations all over Metro Manila to ultimately improve the traffic situation. We would only attain this with the cooperation and support of all the stakeholders, including the barangay personnel – the people on the ground who have direct supervision over these inner roads,” he said.

Barangay chairmen can also be charged for failure to keep the rivers and esteros in their areas garbage-free.

MMDA has been continuously cleaning waterways to ease flooding during the rainy season.