Contractors of utility firms causing traffic jams will be arrested — MMDA

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has warned erring contractors of local utility companies they will be arrested if they are found unnecessarily causing traffic jams along Edsa and other major thoroughfares due to their unscheduled road repairs and digging works.

MMDA Chairman Oscar Inocentes said he will not hesitate to confiscate any construction equipment blocking the roadways during rush hours as he enjoined the contractors to strictly comply not only with the appropriate safety guidelines but also with the MMDA’s traffic regulations.

“Before you make any digging or close any portion of the road, submit your notice, traffic plans and timetables first. Pag ‘di kayo sumunod, aarestuhin ko kayo (If you will not comply, I will have you arrested),” the irate MMDA chairman told representatives and contractors of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and various utility firms and telecommunications companies during a meeting at the MMDA office in Makati City the other day.

Inocentes said he was very much disturbed by the apparent rising number of complaints from angry motorists caught in constant heavy traffic on Edsa and other major highways.

Inocentes pointed out the DPWH contractor did not submit a prior notice to the MMDA concerning its concrete re-blocking project on Edsa.

“From now on, I will be very strict with you. No excuses. Pag may makita akong equipment niyo na nakabalandra kung saan-saan, kukumpiskahin ko ‘yun,” he warned the representatives of DPWH, Meralco, Maynilad, Manila Water and telecommunications firms Smart, Globe, Digitel, Eastern Telecom, Bayantel, Skycable, Destiny Cable and Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT), and their respective private contractors.

Inocentes asked the DPWH’s district engineers and contractors to move their re-blocking project on Edsa this summer.

To prevent these incidents of traffic congestions, Inocentes enjoined DPWH and the utility companies to come up with an advertisement notifying the public on their scheduled road works in advance.

He said they should also inform and coordinate with the Metrobase, the MMDA’s traffic monitoring center, so that the MMDA could immediately come up with traffic contingency measures.

As for the Maynilad and Manila Water, Inocentes required them to restore all the diggings they make in all their water work projects.

“I want all road excavations restored in A-1 condition. Ayoko ko ‘yung haphazard lang ang pag-aayos ng binakbak nilang kalye,” he said.

Inocentes added he will not also tolerate any unjustified extensions of any road work schedules.

“The work should be completed on the timetable they had submitted to us in applying for an excavation permit from the MMDA,” he pointed out. –Pat C. Santos, Daily Tribune