Thursday, July 19, 2007 Manila mayor, metro agency to jointly solve traffic congestion in city
THE courtesy call by officials of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim has paid off after the chief executive of the countrys premier capital agreed to adapt the agency's ?high-impact innovations to restore order in the citys roads.
MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando and his fellow officers visited Lim at the Manila City Hall and offered to undertake sidewalk clearing operations, removal of squatters, construction of footbridges, installation of U-turn slots and other traffic engineering measures to decongest major roads and inner streets of Manila.
Although belonging to the opposition, Lim said he will adhere to policies of government officials allied with the administration provided that the plan will serve his constituents well.
During the meeting, Manila City hall officials agreed to empower the MMDA to place road fixtures and employ the agency's traffic engineering strategies on traffic-prone and congested locations depending on the outcome of the inspection conducted by the city's engineering office.
Lim vowed to support the programs of the MMDA as he expressed his willingness to have informal settlers on esteros, creeks, rivers and other waterways relocated to other areas.
Fernando also presented the proposed expansion of Roxas Boulevard from Manila to Pasay City with the MMDA initially planning to remove obstructions at the service road of the roadway.
Last month, MMDA traffic enforcers were allowed to return to the city after a two year absence to augment local enforcers in traffic management duties.
Then Manila Mayor Jose Lito Atienza was at odds with Fernando making it difficult for MMDA personnel to perform their assigned task in Manila. (AH/Sunnex)
