Intervention sought in MMDA-mayors row

Pasay City Mayor Wenceslao "Peewee" Trinidad called on Interior and Local Government Secretary Angelo Reyes yesterday to step in and help resolve the ongoing tussle between several local chief executives in the metropolis and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Bayani Fernando.

In a forum at the Ambassador Hotel, Trinidad said mayors would welcome outside forces in finding a solution to their predicament, which centers on MMDA schemes and projects, which the mayors said were implemented without their approval.

"We are appealing to Secretary Reyes to resolve the problem. The current situation is not doing anybody any good," said Trinidad, who is the spokesman of the Metro Mayors League (MML).

He told The STAR that Senate President Franklin Drilon and Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel, the author of the Local Government Code, could also help arrange a meeting.

Trinidad gave his assurance that the other Metro mayors share the sentiment.

The MML, he said, is still waiting for Fernando to call for a meeting to address the issue.

"As far as the local government units are concerned, we are just waiting for an invitation from the MMDA Chairman," the Pasay mayor said.

He complained that Fernando often avoids answering issues directly, pointing out that the MMDA belittles the complaints of the few mayors against him.

Quoting the late Manila Mayor Arsenio Lacson, Trinidad said people cannot be like crabs and keep on walking sideways.

"Fernando is like that. He keeps on walking sideways. He does not answer directly," he said.

Trinidad noted that when the MML met last week, there were 13 mayors present and one even made a long distance call from the US. He pointed out they were one in saying the MMDA has no police power.

The MMDA was recently at the losing end of two legal battles. Last week, the Supreme Court (SC) disallowed them from confiscating licenses of erring motorists. Days later, a Makati court told them to stop implementing the No Contact Traffic Apprehension (NCTA) scheme and the Metropolitan Traffic Ticket (MTT) system.

However, Fernando remains unfazed, saying confiscating licenses no longer applies to them. Under the current system, they take pictures of violators and send summons indicating the offense committed and corresponding fines.

As for the decision of the Makati court, the MMDA said it is not yet final and that they would file a motion for reconsideration.

Despite the difference of opinion with the MMDA chief, the mayors have not called for his resignation, Trinidad said.