Thursday, February 21, 2008 MMDA won't allow anti-Arroyo protestors to use Edsa
THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is planning to play the spoiler's role when the anti-Arroyo forces troop to Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (Edsa) on Monday in commemoration of the 1986 Edsa people power uprising.
This as the United Opposition (UNO) announced that it will lead a mass at the Ninoy Aquino Monument in Makati City on Monday.
The MMDA said it will not allow demonstrators calling for the resignation of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to use Edsa as staging point for their rallies to prevent the disruption of traffic along the 24-kilometer main thoroughfare.
Instead, the MMDA will ask rally organizers and participants to take their rallies to the People Power Monument in the vicinity of White Plains and Katipunan Avenue in Quezon City where the staging of mass action is allowed by law.
Various militant organizations will join the "nationally coordinated" protest actions on Monday as a buildup towards the "interfaith rally for truth, justice and accountability" in Luneta on February 29.
The February 25 rally, which will be held in commemoration of the 1986 Edsa People Power uprising that toppled the Marcos dictatorship, will be staged "from Baguio to Mindanao as the nation observes the Edsa 1 anniversary amid fresh allegations of corruption and calls for resignation currently hounding the Arroyo government."
MMDA chairman Bayani Fernando said the agency would be ready on Monday to thwart any attempt to disrupt traffic flow by deploying about 300 traffic enforcers.
Fernando was quick to explain that the preparation was not meant to suppress freedom of expression.
"We are discouraging the closure of Edsa to traffic because this will severely inconvenience the riding public and motorists who prefer to travel along this major roadway to reach their destinations faster and more safely," he said.
MMDA Traffic Operations Center chief Aris Mercado said the 300 traffic enforcers will be deployed to Edsa-People Power Monument starting at 6 a.m. on Monday to ensure that there would be no traffic buildup along the thoroughfare when rallyists begin to mass up.
Mercado said a contingent of another 300 enforcers will be on standby at the MMDA national office in Makati City ready to augment the first 300 enforcers in case the traffic situation along Edsa gets out of hand.
The day-off of the traffic enforcers, who will be assigned at either fixed posts or on board motorcycles, have been cancelled to maximize their deployment to Edsa and its surrounding areas on Monday.
The MMDA road emergency group will also be on heightened alert as they will be deployed to seven emergency stations along Edsa ready to reach road accidents sites and rescue victims in 15 minutes.
UNO president and Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay said the thanksgiving mass will be their own "solemn" way of commemorating the famous revolt 22 years ago.
Binay said key personalities in the 1986 uprising will be invited, particularly former President Corazon Aquino.
"It will also be an opportunity for us to express our gratitude for the active interest being displayed by various sectors in national affairs," he said.
While pointing out that the mass will not be a political rally, Binay still made a swipe at the Arroyo administration, saying the political opposition is "thankful" for the active involvement of the church, civil society, business and youth groups in the protest movement.
The February 25 rally will be held in commemoration of the 1986 Edsa People Power uprising that toppled the Marcos dictatorship.
UNO, along with various civil society groups and the Catholic Church, spearheaded Friday's protest at the Makati central business district, which was held amid allegations of corruptions and bribery in the cancelled US$329 million national broadband network (NBN) project with China's ZTE Corporation.
The protesters have called for Mrs. Arroyo's resignation and the prosecution of government officials involved in the alleged overprice and bribery that attended the NBN deal as revealed by Rodolfo Lozada, the key witness in the Senate hearings on the questionable contract. (AH/Sunnex)
