Estrada to sack execs not cooperating in road-clearing drive

Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada. AP FILE PHOTO

Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada on Thursday warned of sanctions against city officials backing the operations of illegal vendors and transport terminals in the capital.

In a statement, Estrada said he will not hesitate to sack city and barangay (village) officials who will not cooperate in his road-clearing drive.

“We are one with President (Rodrigo) Duterte in addressing the seemingly unending problem of traffic congestion. Here in Manila, I will do everything in my power to clear all our roads of obstructions,” said Estrada, who led clearing operations in the city for the past months, including Divisoria, Binondo, Blumentritt and Quiapo.

“Traffic is no longer just the concern of the city mayor, or of the traffic management units, but also of every city official down to the barangays,” he added.

Estrada said he had also created what he called a “traffic superbody” tasked to manage the traffic situation and enforce traffic rules in all of Manila’s major intersections.

Estrada said the superbody is composed of members of the Department of Public Safety (DPS), Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau (MTPB), Manila Police District-Traffic Enforcement Unit (MPD-TEU), Manila Tricycle Regulatory Office, Manila Barangay Bureau, City Treasurer’s Office, and the Manila City Hall Action and Support Assignment (MASA).

MTPB chief Dennis Alcoreza said part of the composite team’s job was to monitor the proliferation of illegal vendors and transport terminals in the city.

“Ang plano, ‘pag bumaba sa isang operation, isang composite team, kumpleto, so full impact. Lahat ng violators huhulihin, walang sisinohin (The plan is the entire composite team will conduct the operation so it would have full impact), just to ensure that traffic flow will remain moving,” Alcoreza added. RAM/rga

RELATED STORIES

Estrada sends SWAT team to Divisoria

Erap: Stop anarchy in city streets