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Wednesday, October 30, 2024

MMDA learns from FVR

Metro Manila Development Authority’s general manager Thomas “Tim” M.  Orbos has begun  reaching out to stakeholders to find solutions to the problems besetting  the metropolis and find ways to help improve services to 12.8-million  residents.

 Orbos made a courtesy call on former President Fidel V. Ramos at the RPDEV office in Makati City to learn the best practices of the Ramos administration and discuss projects to attend to basic services affecting the metropolis such as traffic, garbage, sewerage and flooding.  

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The new MMDA  head  expressed his gratitude to Ramos for his continuing service to the country as a Senior Statesman and for being a mentor to a province mate—both Ramos and Orbos hail from Pangasinan.

“It was a great opportunity to engage President Ramos in a meeting and I am fortunate to be mentored on the best practices of his administration,” Orbos said. 

TIPS FROM FVR. Former President Fidel V. Ramos offers some pointers on governance to MMDA GM Thomas Orbos.

“It was also very generous on his part to express his support to MMDA and to Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade for MMDA’s new Back-to-Basics program that would restore the authority to the streets,” Orbos said..  

The visit afforded Ramos and Orbos the opportunity to review plans and programs undertaken during the Ramos administration that are still applicable to date for possible implementation by President Rodrigo Duterte and Secretary Tugade.  

In the more than one-hour meeting, the former President  shared to  Orbos  what his former administration has done to decongest Metro Manila and abate flooding. He likewise spoke of proposed projects which never got off the ground.   

Among Ramos’ recommendations were the utilization of the port of Batangas to decongest the port of Manila; the construction of the Zapote-C6 by pass landing which would link Southern and Northern Luzon; revival of the Save the Pasig River, Piso Para sa Pasig and the Clean and Green Movement; the transfer of the Philippine Navy Headquarters to SangleyPoint in Cavite; the full utilization of Subic and Clark airports; and the implementation of the common bus terminal projects. 

Also discussed were the garbage transfer stations that the Ramos administration put in place to address the waste disposal problem in Metro Manila.  

Ramos made a sales pitch to the proposed construction of the People Power Center that will be beneficial as this can help ease the vehicle parking problem. The Center is designed to accommodate 2,000 cars at any given time. 

Ramos advised Orbos to continue reaching out “because the problem of Metro Manila cannot be done by MMDA alone.  What is needed is U.S.T., meaning Unity of purpose, Solidarity in values and Teamwork in nation-building,” he added. 

 Meanwhile, Orbos  said  the agency was assessing the operations of the Southwest Integrated Provincial Terminal  in Parañaque City with a view to a possible  transfer to another site.

Orbos  said the agency’s  move was in response to  an observation  made by Senator Grace Poe, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Public Services,  who inspected the terminal.

According to Orbos, the SWIPT is only a temporary station pending  the completion of a permanent terminal by the  Department of Transportation. 

The terminal  was supposed to be completed last year but was delayed and later moved to 2018.

Based on the agency’s data, from the previous number of 1,000 buses using the SWIPT, this has decreased to only  200.

Orbos said that provincial buses making U-turns along Buendia Avenue  contribute to the traffic buildup in the said thoroughfare.

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