Monday, January 12, 2009 MMDA defends pink-colored traffic signs
THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said Sunday that it does not violate any international or local traffic code in using pink color for traffic signs.
“All of our programs are in accordance with local and international standards. We see nothing wrong with it,” said MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando adding that motorists are also in favor of the pink-colored signages as this can be easily seen.
Fernando said that the Vienna Convention cited by the lawmakers does not prohibit the use of colors other than white, yellow, red, black, blue, green, and orange as internationally accepted colors for traffic signs, markings, and traffic lights.
Earlier, Party-list Representatives Satur Ocampo and Teodoro Casiño of Bayan Muna, Liza Maza and Luzviminda Ilagan of Gabriela, and Rafael Mariano of Anakpawis asked Congress to investigate in aid of legislation the MMDA’s penchant for the pink signs and structures not only mar the urban landscape but also violate local and international traffic safety regulations.
They said that the pink color is not in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals, of which the Philippines is one of the signatories, which states the standard colors and sizes that should be used in road signs.
The MMDA signs, according to them, also go against Administrative Order 160-A titled "Specifying the Legal Grounds and Procedures for the Prohibition and abatement of Billboards and Signboards Constituting Public Nuisance or Other Violations of Law."
But Fernando insisted that the MMDA has not violated any law even as he turned the tables on the lawmakers calling them more of a “nuisance” than the agency.
“By definition, a public nuisance is defined as any act, omission, establishment of condition of property, or anything which annoys or offends the senses. Going by this definition, then it appears that our party-list lawmakers are public nuisance,” he said.
Instead of calling for a House probe, Fernando said the lawmakers should focus their work on coming up with legislation on how to improve traffic safety in the country.
Better, still he said for them to amend the Vienna Convention and institute whatever reforms or changes they have in mind.
“There is a very petty issue. They should just concentrate their energies on true public nuisance such as the graffiti and vandals posted by members of Left-leaning groups which are more a nuisance than our signs,” he said. (AH/Sunnex)
