A lawmaker on Thursday highlighted the importance of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) as he defended the agency amid a proposal in the House of Representatives to abolish the office for wasting public funds.

In an interview, Senator Christopher Lawrence Go said MMDA has already became a big part of people’s lives in Metro Manila in maintaining order in the region.

“Alam niyo, napakalaki ng Metro Manila, trapik, dikit-dikit yung mga syudad. Dapat may isang ahensya nga, itong (You know, Metro Manila is very large area, traffic, with cities very close to each other. There should be an agency, the) MMDA, to coordinate these cities. Sa akin, kontento naman ako sa trabaho ng (For me, I am contented with the performance of) MMDA,” Go said during his aid distribution to indigent families in Mendez, Cavite.

The lawmaker noted that if ever there are issues with MMDA, it is better that these should be addressed rather than abolishing the agency itself.

“Kung saka-sakali mang may pagkukulang sila, silipin natin ng mabuti para maayos. Wala namang perpekto, para mas makakatulong pa ang MMDA sa mga kababayan natin sa (If ever they have lapses, let’s look into it thoroughly and fix it, nobody is perfect, so that MMDA can better serve our people in) Metro Manila,” Go said.

In a privilege speech at the House on Monday, Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua called for the abolition of the MMDA as part of the national government’s push to rightsize the bureaucracy, and for the Metro Manila Council — composed of all the mayors in Metro Manila — to take over its functions.

Chua claimed MMDA has been encroaching into the jurisdiction of Metro Manila’s local governments and duplicating the work of national agencies.

However, MMDA acting Chairperson Romando Artes cannot see any redundancy in the agency’s functions, saying they are coordinating with other agencies in implementing projects.

Artes also noted that the MMDA was created by law, and thus can only be abolished by another law.

MMDA was created by Republic Act 7924 which was passed on March 1, 1995.

It is mandated to plan, supervise, regulate, monitor, coordinate or implement policies, programs and projects where appropriate, in conformity with the national government policies without prejudice to the autonomy of the local government units within the National Capital Region. (PNA)

Photo credit: Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Official Website