THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Wednesday acted on complaints made to the Malacañan Palace hot line 8888 by removing various road obstructions that impede the flow of traffic along busy Geronimo Street in Barangay 432 in the city of Manila.
MMDA Chairman Danilo D. Lim led the joint operation composed of the agency’s Special Operations Task Group members and Manila’s Anti-Illegal Parking Operations Team in clearing the whole stretch of Geronimo Street, Barangay 432-Zone 44 in Sampaloc.
Lim said the clearing operation was in response to the directive of the Presidential Action Center to decongest the major road where Ospital ng Sampaloc is located.
“Barangay leaders are aware of this clearing operation since Geronimo Street was a subject of complaint through Presidential hot line 8888. Residents have reported the presence of illegally parked vehicles and numerous food stalls on the road,” Lim added.
During the operations, the MMDA did not spare food stalls, eateries, sari-sari (variety) stores built on portions of Geronimo Street. All were dismantled despite residents’ plea for a longer period of time to tear down their stands voluntarily.
The teams also confiscated food carts, wooden carts, bicycles, wooden benches, construction materials and plant boxes impeding the flow of traffic.
The MMDA issued traffic-violation tickets to motorists whose vehicles were illegally parked on the road. A number of vehicles were also towed and impounded.
Lim said they are now coordinating with the Department of the Interior and Local Government Undersecretary for Barangay Affairs Martin B. Diño on how to make barangay leaders responsible in maintaining orderliness in their jurisdiction and cooperate in the agency’s drive against road obstructions.
MMDA Acting General Manager Jojo Garcia said the agency will look into permits issued to ongoing construction of residential projects along the road.
“We wonder how some of the residential buildings were able to obtain permits when they fall short in maintaining setback restrictions,” Garcia said.
The MMDA also expressed gratitude to Manila City Mayor Joseph E. Estrada for deploying members of the Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau to assist them in the clearing operations.
Image credits: Angel Tamayo