|
By Jefferson Antiporda, Reporter
IT looks like the Holy Week will be a period of
suffering for those who will be the next targets of the clearing
operations of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA).
Robert Nacianceno, the MMDA general manager,
said that there will be no stop in the operations of the agency even
during the observation of Holy Week, particularly in the clearing of
sidewalks and repairing of roads.
He said the agency will take advantage of the
long weekend to conduct additional road repairs and removal of all
kinds of obstruction on sidewalks.
“Holy week is one of the holidays the MMDA is
looking forward, to because most of the residents in the [National
Capital] Region are in the provinces, which means vehicle volume is
at the lowest, giving us a better chance to continue our
operations,” Nacianceno explained during the weekly Kapihan ng
Bayan Forum.
Nacianceno said the agency will only send the
wrong message to the public if it will suspend operations on illegal
structures and vendors
The MMDA, he said, is duty bound to clear the
sidewalks and roads in the metropolis, and to ensure that
pedestrians have an obstruction-free walkway or path.
“So far we have been successful despite of the
criticisms from affected sectors, particularly the illegal vendors
and establishment owners,” Nacianceno said.
The MMDA is also being blamed for committing
human rights abuses when demolishing illegal shanties and
establishments.
Aside from conducting road repairs and sidewalk
clearing operations, the agency will also be busy in managing
traffic, especially on Wednesday night where most vehicles will be
heading out of Metro Manila, and from Saturday evening up to Easter
Sunday, when the exodus back to the metropolis takes place.
|
