MMDA remains focused on traffic and flood control — Garcia

Newly-appointed Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) General Manager Jojo Garcia said the agency will press on with its  programs on traffic management and flood control, calling the change in the agency’s leadership a mere “change in paper.”

In an interview with Radyo Inquirer on Wednesday, Garcia said the agency would push through with the projects that MMDA Chairman Danilo Lim has started.  He added that managing Metro Manila’s heavy traffic flow is still the biggest concern, especially with the coming of the rainy season.

“Talagang full concentration tayo, kinakailangan nating i-disiplina ang mga motorista.  Akala po nila porke walang enforcers ay di po sila nahuhuli, this March lang po, 54,000 ang ating nahuli,” Garcia said.

Garcia was referring to the no-contact apprehension policy, which the MMDA will continually use to discipline erring motorists.  The policy was implemented to prevent incidents of bribery and violent confrontations between motorists and traffic enforcers.

The MMDA expects the non-contact policy will ease traffic flow along major thoroughfares such as Edsa, Roxas Boulevard, Marcos Highway, and C-5 road.

Disciplining the public

Garcia lamented the seemingly ‘selective’ discipline that the public shows, especially in areas where rules are strictly implemented.  He was quick to say however, that people reacted differently because the level of enforcement varies from one place to another.

“Dalhin niyo sa lang ibang lugar like Subic, marunong sumunod eh, ‘yong mga pedestrian dalhin niyo sa Singapore or Hongkong hindi nagkakalat or jaywalk.  Kasi po may full enforcement ng batas, ‘yan po yung pinaparamdam natin, na kami’y seryoso sa kampanya namin,” Garcia said.

“Ang malaking challenge po sa atin ngayon ay ‘yong paghahanda sa tag-ulan,” he said.  “Tuloy-tuloy po ang paglilinis namin ng mga estero, mga pumping stations, kasi araw-araw po truckloads of basura ang nakukuha natin,” he added.

The new MMDA general manager added that road obstructions and illegal parking remain major concerns for the agency.

“Ang problema lang po talaga namin ‘pag alis namin nagbabalikan na,” Garcia said, referring to motorists parking their vehicles on illegal spaces.

Garcia said the MMDA had to coordinate with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to prevent illegal parking.

“Ang naging solusyon namin dyan, kami’y nakipag-coordinate sa DILG, kay Undersecretary Martin Diño, nagkaroon kami ng Memorandum of Agreement na kapag paulit-ulit na, i-dedemanda namin sila,” Garcia added.    /muf