‘Give MMDA a chance’
Amid the traffic woes that continues to grip Metro Manila — particularly EDSA — senators on Tuesday proposed a review of the mandate of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).
During the Senate inquiry yesterday by the Public Services Committee, Minority Leader Franklin Drilon agreed to the MMDA’s difficulty in managing EDSA traffic with all the local government units invoking their power over their jurisdiction.
“We are not depriving local government units of any power but just on that particular issue, the management of EDSA. This is a thoroughfare that is so critical to our economy. Maybe we should review the power of MMDA,” said Drilon, noting that the cities of Caloocan, Quezon, Mandaluyong, Pasay, and Makati have their jurisdictions over the stretch of EDSA.
The senator moved to review the mandate of the MMDA given the still worsening traffic situation in that 23.8-kilometer stretch.
We are not depriving local government units of any power but just on that particular issue, the management of EDSA.
“It’s about time that we review the power of MMDA given the chaotic situation because it has been brought out that the reason for the injunction is that the MMDA admitted that they have no power and it belongs to the LGU,” Drilon said.
Provincial bus ban
He also referred to the order issued by a Quezon City court against the provincial bus ban on EDSA and stressed that it will be an opportunity for them to review the particular aspect because otherwise the “implementor is hamstrung by the lack of authority.”
Senate Public Services Committee chairman Sen. Grace Poe, on the other hand, concurred with Drilon and noted that since they expanded the definition of Metro Manila to Mega Manila to include Rizal, Cavite, as well as Laguna, “that perhaps we should review the mandate of MMDA.”
Poe also lambasted MMDA chairman Danilo Lim for his absence in the Senate inquiry.
Lim, according to MMDA general manager Jojo Garcia, attended a memorandum of agreement (MoA) signing that could not be postponed — which did not sit well with the Poe.
She stressed that the MOA signing was merely “ceremonial.”
“Couldn’t they have signed that in five minutes and come here after?” Poe asked Garcia. “Of course, what you’ll say will be different. Because you are not the leader, will you be able to implement that without approval from him.”
The senator added that she will conduct another hearing “only to listen to his (Lim’s) side.”
“To those who don’t attend, don’t think that your day here will not come because this is an issue of accountability. Everyone should have a chance to have their side heard,” Poe said.
Failed experiment
The inquiry stemmed from the MMDA push to implement a dry run of the provincial bus ban, even after a Quezon City court barred the implementation of the policy.
Several groups claimed that the MMDA does not have the authority to ban provincial buses along EDSA as the agency does not have legislative nor police powers.
They cited a 2007 Supreme Court ruling which invalidated former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s similar directive to close down bus terminals along EDSA in 2003.
The Philippine capital’s traffic congestion costs the country P3.5 billion daily, a 2017 data from the Japan International Cooperation Agency showed. This could rise to P5.4 billion by 2035 if no interventions are made.
The government is now rushing to build transportation systems to make commuting in the capital easier and free the roads of cars.
Malacañang also wants the public to give the MMDA a chance to implement measures that would alleviate the traffic situation in EDSA.
The government is now rushing to build transportation systems to make commuting in the capital easier and free the roads of cars.
Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo issued the call as he noted that it is not just the commuters who are faced with a great deal of inconvenience due to the traffic congestion.
According to him, the MMDA’s “experiment” of fully and strictly enforcing the yellow lane for buses throughout the 54-kilometer stretch of the highway is “a hit or miss.”
“You know, it can’t be that the public is not affected when you experiment. Let’s give them a chance. I was listening to them during the Senate hearing they have a lot of plans,” Panelo said.
“Let MMDA do its job. If it does not do anything, then let’s find another solution. It’s useless discussing these things, because they already have recommendations and they are not even in place and yet here we are, already criticizing them,” stated the official. “Wait it out first, be patient. All of us are affected,” he added.
This is a thoroughfare that is so critical to our economy. Maybe we should review the power of MMDA.
Meanwhile, Quezon City 3rd District Rep. Allan Benedict Reyes on Tuesday disclosed that a Magna Carta for commuters that is pending in both chambers of Congress seeks greater mobility to people by giving them more transportation options and making urban centers more walkable.
In a television interview, Reyes said that commuters -- not private cars -- will be “first in line” and will be given more options through larger sidewalks that can also accommodate bicycles and scooters.
‘Walkable EDSA’
“Imagine a walkable EDSA. Let’s say you want to go from Cubao to Ortigas. That’s just a short walk. But if we provide a nice walkable, tree-lined probably or elevated walkway why won’t you do that just like in Hong Kong,” said Reyes. “This bill would help make you first in line not private cars but you’d be given more priorities, given more access to your choices of getting from one point to another.”
The lawmaker authored House Bill 3125 or An Act Creating a Magna Carta of Commuters” while Sen. Francis Pangilinan filed the counterpart measure in the Senate.
“What agencies are doing right now is decongest our streets, our major thoroughfares. But with this House Bill, we want to bring in mobility to our commuters,” Reyes said, adding that a more commuter-friendly metropolis will give people easier access to food, water, healthcare, education, and jobs.