Get involved, MMDA asks public

Get involved by taking a more active role in solving problems.

This was the message aired by Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Francis Tolentino to the public Sunday as he said that people should stop hiding behind text messages sent anonymously to authorities to express their gripes against the proliferation of illegal terminals, stalls and other illegal activities in the metropolis.

“My appeal to people who complain, especially those who call our attention at the MMDA, you should also help us in bringing order to the metropolis,” Tolentino said in a radio interview. “Why won’t you help us?”

He was referring to the various complaints sent to the agency, including the illegal transport terminal situated in the Guadalupe area in Makati City.

Last week, the agency tried implementing a new traffic scheme in the area to decongest traffic only to be met with opposition from barangay (village) officials.

A watchman from Barangay Guadalupe Nuevo even accused Tolentino of hitting him during a confrontation last Tuesday, a charge vehemently denied by the MMDA chairman.

According to Tolentino, traffic flow in the area gradually improved after the MMDA implemented a new traffic scheme which bars passenger jeepneys from using EDSA.

“I hope the public will help us. I think that citizen action will make [a bigger] impact,” he said.

He pointed out that barangay officials should be the one to act on residents’ complaints and if there are no changes, they should take action themselves.

If residents in an area were to band together to achieve a common goal, there would be fewer problems, Tolentino added.