MMDA yields in dispute over urinals

A top official of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said they are willing to temporarily cease from installing public urinals in Muntinlupa City following a contoversy over the removal of several urinals along the South Luzon Expressway.

MMDA General Manager Robert Nacianceno told The STAR yesterday he is also willing to initiate a dialogue with Muntinlupa Mayor Jaime Fresnedi and other local officials to thresh out issues and concerns over the urinals.

"We (MMDA) will not put up urinals unless we are able to sit down with the Muntinlupa officials and discuss the issues. There was no intention on our part to break any agreement with Muntinlupa. I think they are concerned as to where and when we would put up the facilities," Nacianceno said.

The local government had been at odds with MMDA when the latter allegedly refused to listen to a plea by local officials to stop putting up urinals in the area without first getting their approval.

After days of being ignored, the local government took matters into its own hands and began removing the pink and lavender colored urinals in there area. The contoversy began after a city government vehilce allegedly vandalized the units lined up along the west service road of the SLEX. Muntinlupa officials denied they vandalized the urinals.

In an earlier interview with Muntinlupa Vice Mayor Jojay Alcaraz, he said they felt "insulted" when the MMDA did not coordinate with them or seek their permission before going through with the project.

"We have not in any way been a nuisance to them, we have always been cooperative with the MMDA. The MMDA is required by law to coordinate especially if the project concerns us. We are not barring them from implementing projects, but they should at least coordinate with us," Alcaraz told The STAR.

Nacianceno responded that it is the MMDA’s prerogative where to put the urinals since it is in charge of the main thoroughfares.

He added: "All must come to terms. At the end of the day, let us assess if these facilities have served their purpose."

Alcaraz clarified their decision to remove the units was not a spur of the moment idea, saying they first took diplomatic steps. "We did this to drive a point."

They claimed that on July 29, without informing the city, the MMDA installed three urinals. The following day, they wrote a letter to the MMDA, asking the agency to coordinate with their office before putting up more urinals.

"The next day, Mr. Nacianceno went to see Mayor Fresnedi who asked them not to install additional units in the area. That same night, they put up three more units. They should have been more considerate because the city government also has its own beautification plans and the setting up of the urinals might run counter with the local program," the local official said.

Muntinlupa City architect Jinky Espina said they are now making plans to develop Alabang as a "gateway" for people coming from the northern part of the country, which they hope would bring in tourism and more economic activity.

Included in their initial plans is setting up toilet facilities for both male and female.

"We hope to turn Alabang into an urban corridor and change its image. If the urinals are the first thing visitors see, it would not create a good impression," he said.