Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) acting chairman Romando Artes on Monday said only the law can direct the abolition of the agency.
The statement is his response to Manila 3rd District Representative Joel Chua's call for the abolition of the MMDA.
"Masasabi ko lang ay batas ang nag-create sa MMDA. Batas din ang pwedeng pumatay diyan, o magtanggal ng buhay," Artes told reporters in a chance interview.
In 1995, the Senate and the House of Representatives passed the Republic Act No. 79124 creating the MMDA as a replacement to Metro Manila Authority (MMA).
But the MMDA chief noted that if Congress and President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. ordered the agency's abolition, they will abide.
"Kung sa tingin ng Kongreso o ng ating mahal na Pangulo na na-outlive na ng MMDA 'yung kaniyang purpose at sabihin nila na ilipat na lang ang aming ginagawa sa iba't ibang ahensya sa NCR, we leave it up to them kung ayun ang magiging desisyon nila at mag a-abide kami," he said.
In his privilege speech on Monday, Chua cited that abolishing the MMDA is in line with the President's government rightsizing program.
He also noted that this move can save the government billions of peso.
"Bakit dapat buwagin ang MMDA? Sinusulong natin ang abolisyon ng MMDA [para] matigil na ang pagwa-waldas ng bilyun-bilyong pondo ng pamahalaan na napupunta lang sa proyektong pinopondohan ngunit hindi naman naisasakatuparan," he said.
Chua then proposed to retain the National Capital Region Coordinating Council instead.
