A screen grab taken from Moises Meman’s video shows black smoke billowing from the MMDA service vehicle.
While transport officials are relentless in their crackdown against dilapidated and smoke-belching public utility vehicles (PUVs), the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) seems to have forgotten to police its own ranks.
In a 20-second video posted by Moises Meman on his Facebook account last week, a white coaster with “MMDA” written on the back and sporting a government plate of SEK 769 was spotted on Kalayaan Avenue, Makati City, spewing thick black smoke.
According to Meman, he came across the vehicle around 3 p.m. on Feb. 11.
He said that he posted the video “to call the MMDA administration’s attention and see if they are really sincere in addressing issues like this.”
As part of the Interagency Council on Traffic which implements the “Tanggal Bulok, Tanggal Usok” campaign, the MMDA is one of several transport-related agencies tapped to check and ensure that PUVs are in good working condition.
Sought for comment, MMDA spokesperson Celine Pialago said that an investigation had already been called to determine why the vehicle, which is one of the agency’s three shuttle services, was allowed on the road despite having been “recommended for calibration.”