REP. Bayani Fernando on Sunday urged the Metro Manila Development Authority to fix the worsening traffic problem in Metro Manila ahead of the grant of emergency powers to President Rodrigo Duterte to fix the same problem.
Fernando, a former MMDA chairman, said the agency had the mandate to lead traffic management efforts for the entire Metro Manila.
“There is a need for emergency powers, but in our haste to conceptualize solutions to the traffic crisis we forget that there are already systems in place. All we have to do is to maximize its potential,” Fernando said.
He made his statement even as an official said the Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group will be deployed starting Monday in some parts of Commonwealth Avenue, C-5 Road and the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Expressway.
PNP-HPG Spokeswoman Elizabeth Velasquez said the deployment will be made following the announcement that the MMDA’s traffic enforcers will be the ones to take care of the traffic problem along the stretch of Epifanio delos Santos Avenue.
Fernando said the traffic situation in Metro Manila had reached crisis proportions.
He said the emergency powers to be given Duterte would be too broad and too complex and could take too much time to implement, while it was now urgent to solve the traffic problem.
”The emergency powers bill also proposes an approach that would reorganize the existing government agencies and instrumentalities responsible for traffic management, and build from the ground a cohesive organization to again consume more time and resources,” Fernando said.
He said that, since its creation in 1994, the MMDA had conceptualized, proposed and implemented all types of metro-wide programs.
He said the MMDA had 7,000 personnel, which was enough number to effect policies and regulations.
“The MMDA has been empowered by law to cut across political subdivisions, Fernando said.
“The governing body of the MMDA is the Metro Manila Council composed of all mayors in Metro Manila. Metro Manila needs so much common policies and ordinances. By acting collectively, the MMC can cut bureaucratic red tape and impose its political will when enacting common policies for the good of Metro Manila.” With PNA