Metropolitan Manila Development Authority

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority
Pangasiwaan sa Pagpapaunlad ng Kalakhang Maynila
Agency overview
Formed 7 November 1975
  • (etc.)
Superseding agency
Headquarters EDSA cor. Orense St., Guadalupe, Makati City
Annual budget P1.48 billion (2013)[1]
Minister responsible
  • , (etc.)
Agency executive
Parent agency Office of the President
Website www.mmda.gov.ph
Map of Metro Manila showing the cities and municipalities.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (Filipino: Pangasiwaan sa Pagpapaunlad ng Kalakhang Maynila, MMDA), is an agency of the Republic of the Philippines created embracing the cities of Manila, Quezon City, Caloocan, Pasay, Mandaluyong, Makati, Pasig, Marikina, Muntinlupa, Las Piñas, Parañaque, Valenzuela, Malabon, Taguig, Navotas and San Juan and the municipality of Pateros. Metropolitan Manila or the National Capital Region is constituted into a special development and administrative region subject to direct supervision of the President of the Philippines. The MMDA office is located at Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) corner Orense Street, Guadalupe, Makati, Philippines.

The MMDA performs planning, monitoring and coordinative functions, and in the process exercise regulatory and supervisory authority over the delivery of metro-wide services within Metro Manila without diminution of the autonomy of the local government units concerning purely local matters.

The agency is headed by a Chairman, who is appointed by the President and continues to hold office at the discretion of the appointing authority. He is vested with the rank, rights, privileges, disqualifications, and prohibitions of a cabinet member.

History

Agency chairpersons

The MMDA headquarters at EDSA and Orense Street, Makati
# Image Name From Term start Term end
1 Imelda Marcos Manila 27 February 1975 25 February 1986
2 Jejomar Binay Makati 9 January 1990 1991
3 Ignacio Bunye Muntinlupa 1991 30 June 1992
4 Mel Mathay Quezon City 30 June 1992 30 June 1994
5 Prospero Oreta Malabon 30 June 1994 30 June 1998
6 Jejomar Binay Makati 30 June 1998 20 January 2001
7 Benjamin Abalos Mandaluyong 20 January 2001 5 June 2002
8 Bayani Fernando Marikina 5 June 2002 25 November 2009
9 Oscar Inocentes Quezon City 25 November 2009 27 July 2010
10 Francis Tolentino Tagaytay 27 July 2010 7 October 2015
11 Emerson Carlos 7 October 2015 Incumbent

The Metro Manila Council

The governing board and policy making body of the MMDA is the Metro Manila Council, composed of the mayors of the cities and municipalities.

The heads of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Committee (HUDCC), and Philippine National Police (PNP) or their duty authorized representatives, attend meetings of the council as non-voting members.

Functions of the Metro Manila Council

The Council is the policy-making body of the MMDA.

Members of the Metro Manila Council (2013-2016)

Transport and traffic management

MMDA Media Stations

MMDA had TV and radio stations sometimes carrying the same brand, MMDA Teleradyo. They ceased on August 17, 2010.

To compensate for the closure of these communication mediums, the MMDA turned to social media such as Twitter to broadcast traffic updates to users following them. Live billboards, particularly at EDSA, have been also constructed. The MMDA app for iOS and Android have also been made available for free, broadcasting traffic updates directly.

Pasig River Ferry

For more details on this topic, see Pasig River Ferry Service.

Since 2014, the agency took over the mothballed Pasig River ferry system in anticipation of huge traffic along the metropolis, from the Skyway Stage 3 construction. In reviving the defunct transportation, many of the old ferry stations were reactivated and new vessels purchased. Ridership of the waterway service increased over time, with the offering of discounts to students and senior citizens. The MMDA intends to continue operating the ferry service until a private investor takes over.

Mabuhay Lanes

Coined by Francis Tolentino, Mabuhay Lanes (formerly called Christmas Lanes, as it was launched during Christmas season of 2014) are roads marked as priority alternative routes that must be cleared of obstruction at all times. This was underscored by strict parking restrictions, where parked vehicles along roads designated as such were towed right away.

Footbridges

Starting from Bayani Fernando's term, there has been a large increase in construction of footbridges all over Metro Manila. It has been continued, albeit fewer than before, by succeeding chairmen. It has been hailed due to providing safe passage and crossing for pedestrians in otherwise risky pedestrian lanes.

Flood control and sewerage management

Pumping Stations

The MMDA operates several pumping stations in strategic areas of Metro Manila, with the aim of mitigating flooding risks, particularly during inclement weather. Old pumping stations that used diesel engines were upgraded in 2015 to use electric motors. Brand new pumping stations were also constructed in flood-prone areas as part of the agency's flood-mitigation program.

Waterway dredging

Starting with Bayani Fernando's tenure, an emphasis on river dredging activities increased, particularly at flood-prone areas, to reduce the risk and impact of flooding all over the metropolis. These are usually conducted during the dry summer season.

Urban renewal, zoning, and land use planning, and shelter services

Gwapotel

Main article: Gwapotel

The Gwapotel Inn is a cheap hotel run by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.[2] A second Gwapotel was announced in December, 2007.[3]

The Gwapotel along Roxas Boulevard is renamed the MMDA Workers Inn, and is in operation. The Abad Santos Gwapotel has since been converted into their training barracks.

Sidewalk Clearing Operations

The MMDA are empowered to conduct sidewalk clearing operations in a bid to ease traffic flow and enforcement of sidewalks for people.

The MMDA's sidewalk clearing operations became notorious during Bayani Fernando's tenure for intense clearing activities that became a subject of complaints. These were reduced during the term of Oscar Inocentes and the earlier part of Francis Tolentino's term, but eventually was continued, with the cooperation of the public in submitted reports from SMS, Facebook and Viber.

Health and Sanitation, urban protection and pollution control

Anti Smoking Campaign

The Court of Appeals says the MMDA is not among the government agencies deputized to implement RA 9211 or the Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003. The CA added that the MMDA has no police or legislative power to implement the law. It declared invalid MMDA Resolution No. 11-19, which the agency used as basis to implement its anti-smoking campaign.[4]

Public safety

A metro-wide earthquake drill was conducted on July 30, 2015 to prepare the public in the event of a magnitude 7.2 earthquake. Various government agencies, educational institutions and the private sector participated in the drill spearheaded by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA). Different scenarios were re-enacted to simulate a destructive earthquake that is expected to happen when the 100-kilometer West Valley Fault moves.[5]

Criticisms

In the past, such practices were justified by rhetoric that street children need to be 'rescued' from the street. Advocacy groups contend that in seeking to create a beautiful metropolis, the MMDA often treat Metro Manila's urban poor like 'rubbish' on the street.[6]

A report from PREDA that was funded by UNICEF, claims inhumane proceedings to caught vagrants.[7]

See also

References

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Thursday, April 14, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.