Sen. Ralph Recto INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has promised Congress it would unclog esteros or waterways at least three times a year, reduce casualties from road accidents and keep vehicles moving at a rate of at least 29 kilometers per hour in exchange for raising its budget next year to P2.65 billion.
This was revealed on Sunday by Sen. Ralph Recto who has endorsed the MMDA’s performance-based budget, which was part of the innovations initiated by the Department of Budget and Management.
“I fully support the MMDA budget request for 2014 as I endorse action on some immediately actionable measures that will close the gaps in personnel need and boost the welfare of the existing MMDA workforce. I am also proposing that in the national budget, the other national government projects in Metro Manila be presented alongside programs of the MMDA so that we will be given a regional snapshot of what the government intends to do next year,” said Recto.
In the proposed General Appropriation Act of 2014, the MMDA is batting for an 81-percent hike in its budget to P2.65 billion compared to P1.48 billion this year. The agency has divided its performance targets into three categories: traffic management services; solid waste disposal and management services; and flood control and sewerage management services.
Recto said the MMDA’s budget would be supplemented by its collection from fines and fees and mandatory contributions from local government units.
According to him, the MMDA currently manages a total of 197 kilometers of road where it wants the average travel speed pegged at 29 kilometers per hour. The average speed on the 24-kilometer Edsa is estimated at 15 kph.
Recto has already sought a Senate inquiry into the horrid traffic conditions in Metro Manila which an American think tank claimed was costing the Philippines $3.6 billion a year—$1 billion from wasted fuel, electricity, man-hours and increased employment of traffic aides; and $2.6 billion losses from foregone sales and investments.
Aside from ensuring faster average speed, the MMDA has set a maximum 15-minute response time to 90 percent of traffic obstruction cases; the repair of 98 percent of traffic signal outages within two hours; and reduce fatalities from vehicular accidents to just a third of one percent of total cases.
Recto said that the MMDA also manages a total of 595 kilometers of drainage canals and waterways (round trip from Manila to Baguio City) which it vowed to unclog at least thrice a year.
The MMDA has also identified 3,845 hectares of flood-prone areas in the metropolis, which would be the target of its flood monitoring and quick response teams.
For solid waste management, the MMDA has pledged to fully process its share of the trash produced by Metro Manila every day.