THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), along with the Department of the Interior and Local Government, local government unit of Manila, and Manila Police District (MPD) yesterday conducted road clearing operations on major streets in Manila.

MMDA Acting Chairman Atty. Don Artes, MMDA Deputy Chairman Usec. Frisco San Juan Jr., MMDA General Manager Usec. Procopio Lipana, DILG Undersecretary for Barangay Affairs Felicito Valmocina and MPD Director P/BGen. Andre Dizon led the inter-agency clearing operations.

Personnel from the MMDA New Task Force Special Operations and Anti-Colorum Unit under Ret. Col. Edison “Bong” Nebrija cleared Road 10., Yuseco Ext., and Dagupan Street of illegally parked vehicles such as trucks and tricycles.

According to Artes, the roads have to be cleared as they were major places of trading.

He also added that the LGU of Manila and DILG vowed to help maintain the cleanliness of the area so no obstructions will hamper the flow of traffic.

“The agency will coordinate with the police to ensure peace and order in the area where we are conducting clearing operations. This is to avoid incidents where personnel from our teams are injured or harmed by violators,” he added while appealing to the public not to resort to violent means and to instead negotiate peacefully should they be affected by the clearing operations. “Our personnel are directed to observe maximum tolerance at all times.”

Meanwhile, Lipana said that the MMDA will support its personnel who were mauled while performing their duties.

“We stand behind our personnel who got hurt or injured while doing their duty. These incidents, however, will not hinder us from performing our job,” he added.

Artes said the agency will pursue criminal and administrative charges against a barangay captain in a recent punching incident of an MMDA employee while conducting clearing operations on Dagupan Extension in Tondo.

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Edd Reyes