MMDA says pink signs not illegal

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority officials said yesterday they are ready for a possible congressional investigation into the alleged illegality of the MMDA’s use of pink signs across the metropolis.

Bayan Muna Representatives Satur Ocampo and Teodoro Casiño filed House Resolution 916 directing the House Committee on Metro Manila Development to conduct the investigation in aid of legislation on the matter.

Ocampo said the MMDA is bound to abide by the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals, which specifies the internationally accepted colors for traffic signs as white, yellow, black, blue, green, orange, and grey. 

But MMDA general manager Robert Nacianceno said the pink signs are not traffic signs, but are “for pedestrians. These are unique to our country. There are no signs like these in other countries.”

He said the lawmakers are nitpicking over a “non-issue” and politics was behind their criticism, since MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando earlier declared his bid for the presidency in 2010.

MMDA public information office Candy de Jesus said Fernando is willing to face any House investigation into the use of the pink signs.

Ocampo and Casino are also pushing for an investigation into the source of funding for the pink signs. According to the two militant solons, it must be ascertained if the installation of the pinks signs was authorized and approved by the Metro Manila Council (MMC), the policy-making body of the MMDA.

The two cited Republic Act 7924, which requires the MMC to approve the policies and measures to be executed by the MMDA chairman.

MMDA to clear Port Area roads today

The MMDA will start road-clearing operations in Manila’s Port Area today in line with the agency’s road widening and recovery program.

Nacianceno said the road-clearing operation will zero in on the 6.5-kilometer Radial 10 (R-10) road which runs through Navotas and Manila’s Tondo district.

Among the obstructions set for removal are shanties, other illegally constructed structures and container vans located on Moriones Street.

“Just imagine the inconvenience caused to the flow of commerce by these obstructions,” Nacianceno said.

The MMDA will also conduct landscaping along R-10 and will also install streetlights and urinals. – Mike Frialde