|
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA)
chairman Bayani Fernando said the country’s legislature and even
the Supreme Court could decide and solve the long-standing battle
between the agency and the local governments in Metro Manila
regarding the agency’s scope of power and authority.
This developed after Metro
Manila mayors refused to implement the single traffic ticketing
system for traffic law violators, as cited in Executive Order 712
issued by the President weeks ago.
In a meeting of Metro
mayors with Fernando last Friday, the mayors agreed that local units
would continue to use their respective traffic violation receipts.
Fernando noted that people
are now confused over the different interpretations of the
MMDA’s mandate, especially with regards to the implementation of
a single ticketing system.
“In this issue, I wish
that the Supreme Court or Congress would act,” Fernando said
adding that Republic Act 7924, which created the MMDA Charter,
specifically states that the agency has the sole responsibility of
managing and enforcing a unified traffic scheme in Metro Manila
Several bills were filed at
the Lower House in recent years calling for the amendment of the
MMDA Charter, in view of the agency’s controversial programs like
its sidewalk clearing operations.
Binay even cited a High
Court decision in 2005, in the case of MMDA vs. Garin, which made it
clear that the agency has no police powers under the law.
--Jayson Cruz Luna
|
