MMDA ready to deploy vehicles for free rides amid jeepney strike

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Danny Lim on Monday said the agency is ready to deploy vehicles to address the demand for rides amid a jeepney strike.

"Pinaghahandaan natin 'yan. Naka-alerto 'yung ating mga elemento rito. Kung kailangang magpalabas ng sasakyan para punuan 'yung pagkawala ng mga nag-i-i-strike na mga 'yan ay gagawin natin. Naka-ready po tayo," Lim said in an interview on Unang Balita.

Jeepney operators and drivers belonging to the Pinagkaisahang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (Piston) gathered early Monday for the transport strike they are spearheading in protest against the government's jeepney modernization plan.

Grupong PISTON, nagsimula nang dumating sa Quezon Memorial Circle. | via @allangatus pic.twitter.com/EGMtwybuOT

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) June 4, 2017

"Nakamonitor po tayo. Meron tayong Metrobase Center dito kaya namo-monitor natin kung kailangang magpalabas ng mga sasakyan. May mga nakaipon tayong mga vehicles na pwedeng ipadala sa mga lugar na nangangailangan," Lim stressed.

Balik Eskwela

The MMDA chairman also said additional traffic enforcers have been deployed in areas near schools to assist motorists and school children on Monday, the first day of the school year 2017-2018.

"Primarily tinututukan natin 'yung mga lugar na malapit sa eskwelahan. Mas dinadagdagan natin 'yung mga personnel natin diyan, hindi lamang para sa trapik, (kundi) para alalayan lalong lalo na ang mga bata. Bukod diyan, assistance, pagbibigay ng assistance kung kinakailangan," he said.

Lim added that the MMDA has also installed additional signs, crossing areas, and pedestrian lanes. They have also put up signs where parking is not allowed. 

"Lahat ng mga signs na 'yan naglagay tayo para maging klaro sa lahat," he said.

Clearing ops

Lim also said that the MMDA is continuing its clearing operations daily, towing vehicles that are illegally parked and tearing down illegal structures.

"Sa totoo lang, araw-araw ginagawa po natin 'yan, baka hindi alam ng ating mga kababayan. On a daily basis, naghahatak tayo ng mga sasakyan sa mga area na hindi dapat sila nandun," he said.

"'Yung mga pagki-clear ng sidewalks, ng mga vendors, araw-araw po ginagawa natin 'yan," Lim added.

However, there are areas where, after these are cleared, become obstructed again as vendors and motorists who park illegally go back.

Lim said barangay officials should ensure that the areas cleared remain free of obstructions.

"Magkaroon sana 'yung responsibilidad na 'yan ng mga pamunuan sa mga lugar na 'yan... Wala na kaming ginagawa, kundi pabalik-balik na eh," he said.

"'Pag na-clear na namin 'yan kasi, tine-turn over namin sa local government, sa barangay, sa liderato ng mga barangay. Hindi na sana namin trabaho dapat 'yun, 'yung bantayan pa 'yan," Lim said.

The MMDA has already filed charges against barangay officials who have allowed road obstructions to proliferate in their areas.

"Sa totoo lang, mga sampung barangay captains na yata ang nakasuhan dahil sa ganyan," Lim said. —KG, GMA News