As an action to the worsening traffic situation in Metro Manila, lawmakers on Wednesday supported the proposed increase of the 2018 budget of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA)
In the MMDA budget hearing, Rep. Winston Castelo supported the proposed P7.19 billion budget of the agency in 2018: P90 million for the hazard pay of traffic enforcers and P164 million for the hiring of 1,000 additional traffic enforcers with hazard pay.
Rep. Federico Sandoval II recommended that the MMDA must be given an initial amount of P10 million for the purchase of drones, which will be used in traffic management.
On his side, Rep. France Castro requested for the number of MMDA personnel as part of solving the worsening traffic condition in Metro Manila, as well as modernization of traffic management and bus terminals.
Baguio City Rep. Mark Go pointed out that MMDA is vested with a lot of powers and responsibilities, among which are development planning, transport and traffic, solid waste disposal, flood control, and urban renewal.
Meanwhile, Rep. Vincent Crisologo (1st District, Quezon City) suggested the implementation, even for a week or a month, of an odd-even scheme along EDSA to see how it can ease the traffic situation.
With his suggestions and recommendations, Rep. Alfred Vargas, vice chairman of the committee on appropriations, who presided over the budget hearing of the MMDA budget, said he and his colleagues will do their best to have it included in the 2018 National Expenditure
Program (NEP) and announced that the plenary deliberations on the budget of MMDA will be on September 5 at 10 a.m.
Moreover, house members also mentioned the good relations between the lawmakers and the MMDA as the reason for the expeditious committee discussion on the MMDA budget. | Angelica Bobiles – PTV
