“Bastusan na itong ginagawa ng MMDA.”
Thus stressed Manila third district Congressman Joel Chua as he and second disrtict Rep. Rolando Valeriano of the capital city’s second district rushed to aid Manilenos and a TNC driver whose vehicles were being seized by MMDA enforcers in an area where they are not supposedly allowed to operate.
Rep. Chua, who earlier filed a bill seeking to abolish the Metro Manila Development Authority (MIAA) which he said encroaches on the jurisdiction of local government units, said he confronted the MMDA enforcers to question their jurisdiction because the roads he found them conducting their operations are Manila roads that are not among the Mabuhay lanes.
Chua said he was in his car on the way to a nearby appointment when he noticed some commotion in the area he was passing through.
He stressed that Manila City Mayor Honey Lacuna has told the MMDA to coordinate with the city traffic bureau and barangays, but that the MMDA has been merely informing Manila by sending pictures of their operations after-the-fact, not prior for proper coordination, according to Rep. Chua.
Congressman Chua took pity on the Grab driver the MMDA accosted. He said that aside from the fact that the MMDA operation was not within MMDA jurisdiction, the concerned Grab driver was working, earning for his family and that the vehicle he was driving was most likely just on loan.
“Kawawa naman ‘yung tao naghahanapbuhay at ipinangutang pa malamang (yung sasakyan),” Chua told reporters.
Congressman Valeriano, for his part, said the MMDA are even seizing vehicles at car wash establishments.
“Parang carnapping na ‘yung ginagawa nila,” said Valeriano, chairman of the House committee on Metro Manila Development.
Valeriano said he has invited the MMDA to attend the hearing scheduled on March 8, so the MMDA can explain to the House. (JERRY S. TAN)
