MANILA, Philippines – The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is set to prepare its response to the petition filed by Albay Representative Joey Salceda to stop the implementation of the provincial bus ban along Edsa.
MMDA – Edsa Traffic head Bong Nebrija on Tuesday said the agency recognizes Salceda’s right to oppose the policy as part of the “democratic process.”
“We will wait for our copy being named as respondent in the said petition and we will let our legal team draft and file the rebuttal,” Nebrija told reporters via Viber when pressed for comment on Salceda’s petition.
“However, in the absence of any resolution to all the petitions filed at the [Supreme Court] we will continue with our preparation and public information about the policy being questioned,” Nebrija added.
Salceda urged the Supreme Court to nullify MMDA Regulation No 19-002 which prohibits or revokes the issuance of permits to all provincial public utility bus terminals and operators along Edsa.
Salceda said the said regulation is “anti-poor.”
READ: Edsa ban on provincial buses ‘antipoor’ — Albay solon
This was not the first time that a petition to stop the implementation of the provincial bus ban was filed before the Supreme Court.
In April, AKO Bicol party-list Rep. Ronald Ang and Alfredo Garbin Jr. also asked the High Court to issue a temporary restraining order against the MMDA’s regulation.
READ: SC asked to stop ban on provincial buses along Edsa
Nebrija then urged the party-list group to provide MMDA and Metro Manila dwellers experiencing daily traffic woes an alternative solution to the problem.
“Sana tingnan naman nila ‘yung merit ng policy. This has been vetted by the Metro Manila mayors’ wisdom. What alternatives do you have for us here in Metro Manila? It’s easy to kill a policy. Kung palaging ganyan, ipapahinto, ‘wag na tayong magpolicy,” Nebrija said. (Editor: Gilbert S. Gaviola)
READ: MMDA exec to AKO Bicol: ‘What alternatives do you have for us’ in NCR?