MMDA to focus on making metro 'livable'

MANILA, Philippines -- The Metropolitan  Manila Development Authority will undergo a reorganization after the transfer of its traffic management functions to the police Highway Patrol Group.

 

MMDA acting chairman Thomas Orbos said the reorganization will allow the agency to realign its resources to areas that are still under its control such as flood control and waste management.

 

“Within the next or next week. Hindi naman magtatanggalan. Kung matatandaan niyo, hindi na sa amin ang traffic management. So, therefore, I have to re-align the resources to focus on areas I have to work on. It has nothing to do with competence or whatever. It is not a new mandate, but a new focus. 'Yon lang. Lahat ng offices, maapektuhan. Mag-iiba na kasi tayo ng focus,” said Orbos.

 

According to Orbos, with the transfer of Metro traffic management duties to the HPG, the traffic enforcers of the MMDA will remain under the agency’s administrative control. However, the enforcers will take their orders from the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the HPG.

 

“(The) Traffic enforcers will remain administratively with us. Pero yong chain of command sa DOTr na,” he said.

 

Orbos said the agency can now focus on other areas like sidewalk clearing and pursuing the anti-smoking drive. He said he intends to copy what the local government in Davao City did to make the city “livable.”

 

“I want to convert the city into a livable and breathable city. Ibabalik ko yong anti-littering, anti-smoking campaign and sidewalk clearing. We will do that. Magandang example yong ginawa nila (Davao City),” he said.

 

Earlier, Orbos said HPG chief Antonio Gardiola would hand out orders to enforcers from the HPG, MMDA, Land Transportation Office and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board under the newly-formed Inter Agency Committee on Traffic (I-ACT).

 

"Ang overall traffic officer will be si General Gardiola ng HPG and under him will be the combined forces of the HPG, MMDA, LTO and LTFRB," said Orbos.

 

Orbos said that a unified I-ACT could solve the worsening problem of traffic congestion in Metro Manila.

 

"Talagang masosolusyonan ang problema ng traffic if it is a unified effort," Orbos said.