The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (Filipino: Pangasiwaan sa Pagpapaunlad ng Kalakhang Maynila, abbreviated MMDA), is an agency of the Republic

of the Philippines created embracing the cities of Manila, Quezon City, Caloocan, Pasay, Mandaluyong, Makati, Pasig, Marikina, Muntinlupa, Las Pias, Paraaque, Valenzuela, Malabon, Taguig, Navotas and San Juan and the municipality of Pateros. Metropolitan Manila or the National Capital Region is constituted into a special development and administrative region subject to direct supervision of the President of the Philippines. The MMDA office is located at Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) corner Orense Street, Guadalupe Nuevo, Makati, Philippines. The MMDA performs planning, monitoring and coordinative functions, and in the process exercise regulatory and supervisory authority over the delivery of metro-wide services within Metro Manila without diminution of the autonomy of the local government units concerning purely local matters. The agency is headed by a Chairman, who is appointed by the President and continues to hold office at the discretion of the appointing authority. He is vested with the rank, rights, privileges, disqualifications, and prohibitions of a cabinet member. The Chairman is assisted by a General Manager, an Assistant General Manager for Finance and Administration, an Assistant General Manager for Planning and Assistant General Manager for Operation, all of whom are appointed by the President with the consent and concurrence of the majority of the Council, subject to civil service laws, rules and regulations. They enjoy security of tenure and may be removed for cause in accordance with law. The Assistant General Manager for Planning should have not less than five (5) years extensive experience in development and planning or must hold a master's degree in urban planning or similar

History

February 27, 1975. President Ferdinand Marcos issued Presidential Decree 824 creating the Metropolitan Manila Commission (MMC). It integrates the Philippine capital Manila and adjacent Quezon City with 2 cities and 12 municipalities of the province of Rizal and 1 municipality of the province of Bulacan. Marcos appointed his wife Imelda Marcos as governor and Ismael Mathay, Jr. as vice-governor. The office was located in front of the GMA-7 TV station at EDSA corner Timog Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City. January 9, 1990. President Corazon C. Aquino issued Executive Order No. 392, in accordance to Article 18, Section 8 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, creating Metro Manila Authority (MMA). The Metro Manila mayors will choose from themselves as chairman. Jejomar Binay of the municipality of Makati served as its

first chairman. The agency transferred to its present office at Guadalupe, Makati. Binay was followed by Ignacio Bunye of municipality of Muntinlupa in 1991, Ismael Mathay, Jr. of Quezon City in 1992 then Prospero Oreta of the municipality of Malabon in 1994.

March 1, 1995. Since the elected chairman is one of the mayors of Metro Manila, the role to his constituency gave less attention. Thus, the Philippine Congress, composed of the Senate and the House of Representatives, passed Republic Act No. 7924 creating the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA). May 1995. Prospero Oreta did not run in the Malabon municipal election. President Fidel V. Ramos appointed him as the first Chairman of the MMDA and made him independent of the Metro Manila mayors. June 1998. Jejomar Binay was prohibited by law from running for his fourth consecutive term as mayor of Makati. President Joseph E. Estrada appointed him as the second Chairman of the MMDA. January 2001. After the removal of Joseph E. Estrada as President, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo removed Binay from office and appointed Benjamin C. Abalos Sr. as Chairman. Abalos served as Mayor of Mandaluyong City from 1986 to 1998. In May of the same year, Binay ran as Mayor of Makati City and won. Since then, Binay has been a critic of the MMDA and advocated for its abolition. February 2002. Abalos was appointed Chairman of the Commission on Elections of the Philippines. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo appointed Bayani Fernando as the fourth Chairman of the MMDA. Fernando served as Mayor of Marikina from 1992 to 2001. He was credited for transforming Marikina from a 4th class municipality to a model Philippine city. Well-known for his work as Mayor of Marikina, Bayani Fernando was then appointed as Chairman of the MMDA. He launched the "Metro Gwapo" drive to start the advocacy of turning Metro Manila to the pride of the Philippines as its capital. He created the Sidewalk Clearing Operations Department, which aimed to clear all sidewalks of illegal structures. Among these are the sidewalks of the North Luzon Central Market (Cloverleaf Market) in Balintawak, Quezon City. The national government saved money because of his decision to change the design of some existing intersections by installing numerous U-turn slots and steel pedestrian overpasses, which he called "footbridges". Metro Manila became notable for becoming the Asian metropolis with a unique male sidewalk urinal. Among the 17 cities and municipalities of Metro Manila, the City of Makati and the city of San Juan disapprove of Fernando's proposals. As a result, these locations do not have major MMDA projects constructed nor deputized traffic enforcers.

October 2009. Fernando ran for Vice-President, which required him to step down from MMDA. Oscar Inocentes succeeded him. Inocentes halted forced sidewalk clearing operations, but continued many of Fernando's projects, with the twist of coloring pink elements into green. He briefly gained popularity as he was strict like Fernando, but not as stubborn, earning the trust of Fernando's rival, Jejomar Binay. MMDA Today. Inocentes was replaced by former Tagaytay mayor Francis Tolentino. Though he had ordered one Gwapotel converted into training barracks and ordering the closure of MMDA TV for austerity measures, he has the intention of continuing every productive endeavors of his predecessors, in line with Noynoy Aquino's challenge to all government units to lead by example. He pledged to continue Fernando's sidewalk clearing operations, but with more compassion. However, Fernando, his predecessor made his presence felt by defending Tolentino in the question about flood control, mentioning previous troubles encountered by the former chairman that were still an issue presently. Tolentino's most notable feats to date include the daring implementation of the no-smoking law, crackdown on billboards along highways, and continuing traffic alleviation that Fernando attempted earlier, this time using modern tools such as social networking sites.

Scope of MMDA Services

The MMDA is responsible for services that have metro-wide impact and transcend local political boundaries, or entail huge expenditures beyond the capability of the individual local government units (LGUs) of Metropolitan Manila. These services include:

Development planning, which includes the preparation of medium and long-term development plans; the development, evaluation and packaging of projects; investments programming and coordination and monitoring of plan, program and project implementation; Transport and traffic management, which include the formulation, coordination, and monitoring of policies, standards, programs and projects to rationalize the existing transport operations, infrastructure requirements, the use of thoroughfares, and promotion of safe and convenient movement of persons and goods; provision for the mass transport system and the institution of a system to regulate road users; administration and implementation of all traffic enforcement operations, traffic engineering services and traffic education programs, including the institution of a single ticketing system in Metropolitan Manila;

Solid waste disposal and management, which include the formulation and implementation of policies, standards, programs and projects for proper and sanitary waste disposal. Also included are the establishment and operation of sanitary land-fill and related facilities and the implementation of other alternative programs intended to reduce, reuse and recycle solid waste; Flood control and sewerage management, which include the formulation and implementation of policies, standards, programs and projects for an integrated flood control, drainage and sewerage system; Urban renewal, zoning and land use planning, and shelter services, which include the formulation, adoption and implementation of policies, standards, rules and regulations, programs and projects to rationalize and optimize urban land use and provide direction to urban growth and expansion, the rehabilitation and development of slum and blighted areas, the development of shelter and housing facilities and the provision of necessary social services; Health and sanitation, urban protection and pollution control, which include the formulation and implementation of policies, rules and regulations, standards, programs and projects for the promotion and safeguarding of the health and sanitation of the region and for the enhancement of ecological balance and the prevention, control and abatement of environmental pollution; and Public safety, which includes the formulation and implementation of programs and policies and procedures to achieve public safety, especially preparedness for preventive or rescue operations during times of calamities and disasters such as conflagrations, earthquakes, flood and tidal waves, and coordination and mobilization of resources and the implementation of contingency plans for the rehabilitation and relief operations in coordination with national agencies concerned.

Functions and Powers

The MMDA shall:

Formulate, coordinate and regulate the implementation of medium and long-term plans and programs for the delivery of metro-wide services, land use and physical development within Metropolitan Manila, consistent with national development objectives and priorities; Prepare, coordinate and regulate the implementation of medium-term programs for metro-wide services that indicate sources and uses of funds for priority

programs and projects, and includes the packaging of projects and presentation to funding institutions;

Undertake and manage on its own metro-wide programs and projects for the delivery of specific services under its jurisdiction, subject to the approval of the Council. For this purpose, MMDA can create appropriate project management offices; Coordinate and monitor the implementation of such plans, programs and projects in Metro Manila; identify bottlenecks and adopt solutions to problems of implementation; Set the policies concerning traffic in Metro Manila, coordinate and regulate the implementation of all programs and projects concerning traffic management, specifically pertaining to enforcement, engineering and education. Upon request, it extends assistance and cooperation, including but not limited to, assignment of personnel, by all other government agencies and offices concerned. Install and administer a single ticketing system, fix, impose and collect fines and penalties for all kinds of violations of traffic rules and regulations, whether moving or non-moving in nature, and confiscate and suspend or revoke drivers' licenses in the enforcement of such traffic laws and regulations. The MMDA enforces all traffic laws and regulations in Metro Manila, through its traffic operation center, and may deputize members of the PNP, traffic enforcers of local government units, duly licensed security guards, or members of non-governmental organizations to whom may be delegated certain authority, subject to such conditions and requirements as the Authority may impose; and Perform other related functions required to achieve the objectives of the MMDA, including the undertaking of delivery of basic services to the local government units, when deemed necessary subject to prior coordination with and consent of the local government unit concerned.

Functions of the General Manager

The general manager shall:

Assist the chairman in the administration of the MMDA and supervision of subordinate personnel; Assist the chairman in the supervision of the operation of the various operating centers and units of the MMDA;

Assist the chairman in the review of plans and programs for the MMDA and for Metro Manila in the preparation of the annual report of activities and accomplishments of the MMDA; and Perform such other duties and functions as may be lawfully delegated or assigned by the chairman from time to time.

The Metro Manila Council The governing board and policy making body of the MMDA is the Metro Manila Council, composed of the mayors of the cities and municipalities. The heads of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Committee (HUDCC), and Philippine National Police (PNP) or their duly authorized representatives, attend meetings of the council as non-voting members. Functions of the Metro Manila Council The Council is the policy-making body of the MMDA.

It approves metro-wide plans, programs and projects and issue rules and regulations and resolutions deemed necessary by the MMDA. It may increase the rate of the allowances and per diems of the members of the Council to be effective during the term of the succeeding Council. It fixes the compensation of the officers and personnel of the MMDA, and approve the annual budget thereof for submission to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). It promulgates rules and regulations and set policies and standards for metro-wide application governing the delivery of basic services, prescribe and collect service and regulatory fees, and impose and collect fines and penalties.

Reflection
Manila, is, of course, not just the Manila of Lito Atienzas and Fred Lims affections. It is also Metro Manila (MM) which is 14 cities and three municipalities, a contiguous collection of Zonal boundaries with their respective officials. The officials, by definition, are all respectable and honorable. They are also of varying persuasions and inclinations. It is therefore easy to understand why MM is difficult to govern. And in Metro Manila, Bayani Fernando Rules. Bayani Fernando is an engineer by profession and an urban planner by choice. He reengineered Marikina into the much-awarded city that it is today: Neat, orderly, and citizen-friendly. My sister lives near the Tamara river, is a card-carrying resident of Marikina and very proud of it. She says she know when she has crossed the Marikina boundary because litter starts appearing in the sidewalks and men walk around with their shirts off. In Marikina, behavior such as these can get you into trouble. Bayonne who was succeeded by wife Marides as Marikina mayor, decided that this was not in keeping with urbanidad, a term that is repeated in pink posters that line the roadways of MM. Bayanis vision of MM is defined thus: Walang sagabal (no obstructions); walang kalat (no litter); walang pook na bulok (no community is left behind) walang sakit (disease-free) and walang mabaho (no offensive smells). The translations are mine, incidentally. According to the same posters, the goal is Metro Gwapito (somewhat goodlooking) by 2008 and Metro Gwapo (really goodlooking) by 2010. When these are achieved, the result is Tao Ganado (Happy People). I pass through the new Gil Fernando Bridge (named after Bayanis father) almost every day which has cut my travel time from Antipolo to Makati by almost 30 minutes still, I get enough time to observe the slow transformation of MM under Bayani Fernando. You might have seen the designated U-turns along main thoroughfares that were once hopelessly clogged. As a commuter of MM for the past 30 years and given immigration and vehicle increase in this metropolis, believe me, this is improvement. Those overpasses that pedestrians are now starting to use, they too are part of Bayanis behavior modification techniques. He has erected steel structures that are difficult to jump over. He is allowing cadena de amor (also pink) to creep through those structures. Where steel is not possible, he plants trees, flowers, even spiny bushes to keep people to pedestrian lanes when crossing. For urbanidad, I am sure. Those pink urinals are being used in our urban sidewalks so that men dont imitate dogs who do their thing against the wall or a tree. Graffiti is super imposed with whirls of paints to remind you that civil disobedience and art eventually catch up with each other. Walls facing main roads that have not been finished properly or reveal cracks and grime are now scaffolded with wire where cadena de amor also creeps. These arent hall so fivy; they are chains of love.