MMDA issues clarification

This has reference to the article of Michael Punongbayan which appeared in your newspaper (July 14, page 13) titled “COA blames MMDA for traffic woes.”

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) wishes to clarify issues raised in the article in order for the Editor and the reading public to be properly appraised of the true and accurate facts.

It appears from the article that one of the major causes of the worsened traffic situation of Metro Manila is the mere 18.5 percent completion of Upgrading of Traffic Signal System with a budget of P391.37 million, as per COA Annual Audit Report. However, we wish to quote the exact wording of the COA report on this matter which might shed better light of the context in which it was made. It states:

“On the other hand, the project for upgrading of traffic signal system with budgeted cost of P391.377 million is still 18.5 percent complete as of yearend, based on the Authority’s Accomplishment Report for CY2015. It was verified that the funds for the project was released thru SARO on March 30, 2015 and the full contract amount was obligated on June 23, 2015. Based on the Notice to Proceed, the project was supposed to be started on June 15, 2015 but the implementation was suspended on the same date up to Sept. 30, 2015 or for a total of 78 days allegedly due to weather condition.”

We wish to clarify that the said paragraph was part of a series of suggestions made by COA for the management to consider for the better utilization of allocated budget to achieve targeted goals on transport and traffic management. Furthermore, nothing in the paragraph, as quoted above, mentions that the 18.5 percent completion constituted a delay in the project and/or was the cause of the non-optimal use of the funds which contributed to the worsened traffic situation of Metro Manila, as suggested by the article. In fact, the report notes that the project could not begin immediately as weather condition obstructed the project from being implemented. We would also like to note that the project duration is 364 days (or 12 months) and given only 3 months left in CY2015, the accomplishment of 18.5 percent for the project at the year-end of 2015 is well within acceptable range of accomplishment, contrary to the suggestion of undue delay resulting in the traffic situation of Metro Manila.

Further, we note that the MMDA in recent years, has attempted to come up with detailed plans to resolve traffic. But these plans are no longer viable before they are even actually implemented because of the rapid changes on the traffic conditions in Metro Manila, brought about by various factors such as the increase in the number of vehicles and fast development in the area.

As such, MMDA is continuously searching for solutions and ideas to improve traffic condition of Metro Manila in coordination with other government agencies having involvement in the infrastructure and other related services in Metro Manila.

We hope to have clarified issues raised in the article and if there should be any further concerns, clarifications or questions, we remain ready to provide whatever assistance necessary.

Thank you. – NEOMIE T. RECIO, Director III MMDA Traffic Engineering Center, MMDA