The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will file criminal and administrative charges against a village chief who punched an MMDA worker last month while clearing operations were underway along Dagupan Extension in Tondo, Manila.
MMDA acting chair Don Artes vowed to support their workers who are assaulted in the line of duty during an inspection of clearing operations on Dagupan Street on Tuesday.
Road clearance operations, he explained, are carried out on specific roads that serve as major traffic arteries and have obstructions that disrupt traffic flow.
He stated that Road 10 Yuseco Extension in Dagupan St. was cleared because it is a major artery leading into and out of Manila's ports.
Artes urged the public not to use violence during these incidents, stating that MMDA personnel can be bargained with and are "directed to observe maximum tolerance at all times."
The city of Manila and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) will assist in keeping the area clean, while the MMDA will set aside funds for wreckers or large tow trucks used in towing heavy vehicles such as container vans, according to Artes.
During the inspection, DILG Undersecretary for Barangay Affairs Felicito Valmocina stated that the barangay chairperson is responsible for maintaining the cleanliness and orderliness of these areas.
On Jan. 24, Rommel Bravo, the chairperson of Barangay 51, allegedly punched a member of the MMDA Task Force Special Operations and Anti-Colorum Unit during a clearance operation in Mabuhay Lane along the Dagupan extension.
The altercation began when Bravo attempted to prevent the MMDA employee from removing the water compressor from his self-service car wash, which was allegedly used to provide additional funding to the barangay.
