taken from inq7.net.. if this project turns out even half as good as advertised.. wow.. you could just imagine how metro manila would look like.. go BF!!!

Watch out for a 'good-looking' Metro

First posted 00:27am (Mla time) Oct 05, 2005
By Tarra V. Quismundo
Inquirer News Service

Editor's Note: Published on Page A21 of the October 5, 2005 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer

ARE YOU READY FOR A makeover?

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Tuesday bared its head-to-toe facelift program for Metro Manila by 2006, aptly called "Metro Gwapo: Looking Forward to a Good-Looking Metro."

Before a powerhouse audience that included President Macapagal-Arroyo and Cabinet members at the agency's headquarters in Makati City Tuesday, the MMDA presented its 11-point rehabilitation program for Metro Manila.

"Instead of saying beautiful, orderly, or pretty, we lumped these terms together into a single word: gwapo," said MMDA Chair Bayani Fernando, explaining the use of the term to reporters.

"Metro Manila should come out as a good-looking metropolis, including its people. Anything and anyone can look good," said Fernando.

A five-year program with an estimated cost of roughly P23.3 billion, Metro Gwapo includes projects that would address traffic management, roadways clearing, resettlement, flood control, and disaster management.

these projects are:

Street Nomads Care, a P247 million program that seeks to remove beggars, vagrants, and the homeless from the streets and taking them to facilities providing decent meals and bed-and-bath.

Sidewalk Dwellers Inventory and Relocation, a P400 million project moving 11,000 informal settlers to resettlement sites.

Waterways Dwellers Relocation project relocating 70,000 families living dangerously on waterways to safe areas.

Pook Na Bulok Program to upgrade blighted areas of Metro Manila.

Other projects include: Workers' Inns, Bike and Walk Ways Project, the Organized Bus Route Program, the Seven Major Roads Rehabilitation Program, C5-Kalayaan Elevated U-turn Slot Project, Flood Mitigation, and Public Safety and Disaster Preparedness and Mitigation Program.

The Metro Gwapo program, said Fernando, would need the partnership of the MMDA, the national government, and local government agencies. He also called on the public to do its part.

"We're looking at Metro Manila in terms of its totality. The task of rehabilitation can only be done with the help of everybody-from the local government to the citizens of Metro Manila, and even those who come here for business or to work," Fernando said.

Go bayani. I really like this guy. Thank god GMA appointed him to MMDA! Hope some pesky mayors won't stand in his way in implementing reforsm. So guys better buy your condos now as if things go right Metro Manila will be back in business.

Bayani is really a bayani! he's one of the most hardworking public officials and imo, one of the least corrupt.

Sounds great. I want to know the numbers. I wonder how expensive this project is going to cost. It sounds like it's going to be rather expensive.

Akala ko ba Manila is a lady? Paano na lang ang project kong 'Ganda Ever'? Nakikigulo lang na naman.

:lol:

Maynila so Bongga Mother! Ang ganda ng lola ever!

Yup, sounds great! Go Bayani!:) Glad to see that he is still pushing through more and more projects to improve the Metro.

Well we can't have a gwapo Metro Manila if we have politician's faces all over "their" projects :laugh: :rofl:

Seriously, I hope public awareness is included in MMDA's plans. If done properly, it can't be the most effective, getting the people helping the city

Sounds great. I want to know the numbers. I wonder how expensive this project is going to cost. It sounds like it's going to be rather expensive.

the numbers are in the article.. :)

yeah! tnx bayani!!

go GMA!

kunwari na-apektuhan si Mayor Lito Atienza dahil mas masipag sakanya si Bayani..eto ang pantalbog nya...

Manila Ooohh- LA- LA!!! (LA obviously for Lito A.) :cheers:
**tapos applicable pa for all genders ung title diba? Girl, boy, bakla, tomboy..peace lahat! ^_^

wala lng nakikigulo lng din.

naisip ko lng..pano ung siansabing relocation sites? san un chka bka un namn ang mapabayaan. Talgang FACE-LIFT lng angmangyayari at hindi tunay na development.

Well we can't have a gwapo Metro Manila if we have politician's faces all over "their" projects :laugh: :rofl:

Seriously, I hope public awareness is included in MMDA's plans. If done properly, it can't be the most effective, getting the people helping the city


don't worry... in the process... it's GMA's face that will be all over the projects.....heheheh...

@boybaha... anyways...the article says an estimated Php23.3Billion.... for 5yrs

I hope this works... and will be implemented properly... the Metro needs the proper sidewalks and greeneries.... I hop[e they'd hike up the fines....

the numbers are in the article.. :)

Ooops how could I miss those? Numbers every other paragraph. Maybe I just fastforwarded to the contents of the plan. Good luck to Bayani. I hope he succeeds.

I had the pleasure of watching Mr. Fernando during an MMDA meeting once during the dark days when a certain diminutive boy scout from Makati was heading up the MMDA (while I was doing my practicum in Manila, working for another government agency). Let me tell you, Mr. Fernando, who was still mayor of Marikina, was all business. Out of all the Metro mayors present in that room, he was the classiest act. The Mayor of Makati at the time, Ms. Binay, sounded like a yes-woman to her husband. And then-QC-mayor Mathay seemed slimy, trying to lord it over all the other mayors. But Mr. Fernando was tough as nails.

Do you guys mean to say that if ever I visited Manila and I hop in a cab, there would be less traffic and then I don't have to pay the high meter price because of shorter traffic and better road??? wooo hooo sounds like a plan to me..LOL

Meron kayang model para sa project ng MMDA? Pwede kaya akong mag-apply? :D

Seriously, it sounds like a good project, and you know how serious BF can get when it comes to his projects. Go BF!

Metro Manila needs a better facelift, pero sa kalagayan ng economy, "OK na YAN".

Do you guys mean to say that if ever I visited Manila and I hop in a cab, there would be less traffic and then I don't have to pay the high meter price because of shorter traffic and better road??? wooo hooo sounds like a plan to me..LOL

Not too sure about the high meter price with the oil situation in the world.... but yes possibly less traffic and better roads;)

kunwari na-apektuhan si Mayor Lito Atienza dahil mas masipag sakanya si Bayani..eto ang pantalbog nya...

Manila Ooohh- LA- LA!!! (LA obviously for Lito A.) :cheers:
**tapos applicable pa for all genders ung title diba? Girl, boy, bakla, tomboy..peace lahat! ^_^

wala lng nakikigulo lng din.

naisip ko lng..pano ung siansabing relocation sites? san un chka bka un namn ang mapabayaan. Talgang FACE-LIFT lng angmangyayari at hindi tunay na development.
facelift will induce development. less blight will attract more investment,business as things will be more orderly, safety increased, traffic reduced so less money is spent idle on traffic.

Not too sure about the high meter price with the oil situation in the world.... but yes possibly less traffic and better roads;)


Well, I know about the rising crude oil prices alright, but I was just refering to instances where I would be sitting in a cab during wee hour in the day that a 15 mins ride can last to over an hour with the bad traffic congestions.

now, if only something can be done about the pink...

I kind of like the pink. It adds color to the otherwise very dull atmosphere.

do you guys know of any detail that would be part of this project?... like would they be paving up all the sidewalks, open up public places, parks and plazas, light up all the streets of the metro, create a cleaner environment, construction of roads, etc...

great news! I'm also wondering what exactly the program will cover, but whatever they plan to do, it probably is something Metro Manila desperately needs. a huge facelift program should've been done years ago! haha! hopefully, after five years, Metro Manila will look cleaner than it is now and as good as other more progressive cities like Kuala Lumpur or Bangkok or Singapore.

they've got a pretty big budget, so hopefully only a minimal amount will go to corruption so we can see better quality and more nicely designed structures. haha

some of the things should do are: clear out all the sidewalks and then redo them so there is at least some standardized shape and size - same goes for the center islands; repave roads they're going to rehabilitate with asphalt; paint lane markings on all roads; plant trees; and relocate squatters elsewhere while also allowing them tol make a decent living. oh yeah... they should also rid the entire Metro Manila of the sidewalk stall parking. the one where cars park right in front of the establishment on sidewalks that they turn into parking lots. sino kaya nagimbento nun? I don't think any other city in the world does it like that. hahaha!

it was in the last paragraph.. i dont konw if yall want more detail

"Street Nomads Care, a P247 million program that seeks to remove beggars, vagrants, and the homeless from the streets and taking them to facilities providing decent meals and bed-and-bath.

Sidewalk Dwellers Inventory and Relocation, a P400 million project moving 11,000 informal settlers to resettlement sites.

Waterways Dwellers Relocation project relocating 70,000 families living dangerously on waterways to safe areas.

Pook Na Bulok Program to upgrade blighted areas of Metro Manila.

Other projects include: Workers' Inns, Bike and Walk Ways Project, the Organized Bus Route Program, the Seven Major Roads Rehabilitation Program, C5-Kalayaan Elevated U-turn Slot Project, Flood Mitigation, and Public Safety and Disaster Preparedness and Mitigation Program."

With regards to the Organized Bus Route Program, I hope they build One Huge Central Location Bus Station for buses going within and outside MM like the NYC Port Authority. The last time I heard, all bus stations in MM are unorganized and staggered that they only worsten the traffic. The Central Location Bus Station must also be implemented in all provincial cities.

^^ I agree. The different bus companies have their stations all across EDSA, it would be better if they were in one central facility.

would the intermodal bus terminal in Quezon Ave be part of this?

i think if we just give BF some time and support he can make this grand plan to make metro manila very very competitive.. everything starts from the little things right? but one man cant do it alone.. we all have to pitch in and help instill discipline within ourselves.. this is the most important component for any project to succeed..

yup.. you're correct.. there should be discipline among us... and I hope we can influence others as well... if we can help in promoting our nationalism, this project will improve...

i think if we just give BF some time and support he can make this grand plan to make metro manila very very competitive.. everything starts from the little things right? but one man cant do it alone.. we all have to pitch in and help instill discipline within ourselves.. this is the most important component for any project to succeed..
and one woman cannot do it alone, let alone millions of detractors wanting her to fail, so let's also support GMA. She had the good sense to put Bayani in this position.

go bayani!!!!!

right now there are some characters petitioning for the abolishment of MMDA. Bayani must be stepping on their turf. this must not happen

*sigh* too much politicking is killing the country...

I'm so glad that Atienza and Bayani have patched up their diifference and move on to focus on the betterment of Manila.

^^ sandrin how did that happen?

nwaiz, i think one thing mmda should consider more than nythin else is decongesting MM, if promdis keep on coming here to look4 jobs & live here then that ends up again to the same problems that we want to avoid: informal settlers, jobless end up illegal vendors blocking the sidewalks, beggars, nuts etc. once countryside devt is started, then verythin else follows.

and btw, im never a fan of bf's fancy pink street signs & other cheap urban furnitures, we need something permanent!!! thats why i wana push for implementing massive infrastructure projects, kahit paisa-isa lang every year will make a difference. people will never be impressed w/ temporary signs, structures that wont last for long, its just big waste of funds, & it will never make MM a world class city.

Sixth Asia Pacific Mining Conference and Exhibition


Organized by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Federation of Mining Associations, with the support of the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (CMP), the Sixth Asia Pacific Mining Conference and Exhibition promises to be more expansive than earlier conferences in Manila.



Representatives of potential investors from Europe, Australia, the United States, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, and India, as well as representatives from markets seeking minerals supply led by China are attending the mining conference.

Officials of relevant government department of the ASEAN countries will talk about their policies vis-à-vis mining and showcase the opportunities in the sector. The conference will seek to formulate a cooperation plan for the development of regional policies on mineral resource utilization and intra-ASEAN trade, enhancement of private sector investments in the region, and research and development. The officials will also discuss technology transfer, safety, and environmental issues in mining projects.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will deliver the keynote address.

We congratulate the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Federation of Mining Associations headed by its President Benjamin Philip G. Romualdez and wish the delegates to the Sixth Asia Pacific Mining Conference and Exhibition success in all their endeavors.

^^ sandrin how did that happen?



and when did it happen?

This is good to hear! Hopefully this project could be completed and that we'd be seeing a cleaner MM. :D

i guess what sandrin meant is that Atienza agrees with MMDA to pursue this gwapo project in the whole metro including the City of Manila

tigidig, di kaya sa mining thread mas appropriate ang post mo:)

^nawawala eh, move mo nga

MMDA kicks off P100-million facelift

First posted 03:56am (Mla time) Nov 07, 2005
By Tarra V. Quismundo
Inquirer News Service



Editor's Note: Published on page A23 of the Nov. 7, 2005 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer


IF YOU build it, he will come.

This line from Kevin Costner's movie "Field of Dreams" might just describe the P100-million beautification project of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

Saying that the multimillion project is beyond cosmetics, the MMDA has embarked on the makeover to attract tourists and investors to the country.

Specifically, the project will center on a 48.7-km road network connecting the Manila International Airport to hotels and destinations in Metro Manila.

Promising to deliver results before Christmas, the MMDA has begun work on the road network, which it calls the Investors' Corridor.

"This is to improve the general environment in Metro Manila in terms of aesthetics and order," said MMDA Chair Bayani Fernando in a press conference last week.

He added, "This should serve as a model for the metro. The route is what most visitors take from the airport to hotels, and to Malacañang."

Lined up for facelift

Lined up for facelift are Andrews Avenue in Parañaque City, Lawton Avenue in Taguig City, and McKinley Road in Makati City.

Also in the plan are the stretch of EDSA (Epifanio delos Santos Avenue) and the President Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard through Pasay City and Parañaque, and Ortigas Avenue traversing the cities of Pasig and Mandaluyong, said MMDA General Manager Robert Nacianceno.

Fernando said most of the P100-million funding from Malacañang would be used for infrastructure development, like the leveling of roads, easement and sidewalk clearing and repair, carpentry and painting of run-down structures, landscaping, and waterways cleaning. Street implements, including lights, footbridges, and signages would also be installed.

The MMDA has sent notices to owners of structures set for demolition and has begun talking to families and others that would be affected.

Promoting order

Fernando said the project was more than just another facelift, because it aimed to promote order in the metropolis.

"We also have an information and disciplining effort, because those [living along the route] tend to go back to their old ways of doing laundry and hanging their clothes on the sidewalk, and walking around half-naked," said Fernando.

He added that while previous beautification efforts focused on covering up eyesores along major roads, the Investors' Route program sought to do the opposite.

"The general idea here is not to cover up, but to open the areas for commerce," Fernando said.

One idea is to convert sidewalks into parking areas, he said.

According to him, the route will be rehabilitated in three months, while "substantial improvements" shall be felt before Christmas time, as President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had wished.

Of the roads lined up for improvement, some had been given a washup last April in preparation for an international gathering of parliamentarians.

Fernando said the agency would again pass through the initially rehabilitated route, including parts of Ninoy Aquino Avenue, Airport Road, MIA Road, Roxas Boulevard, President Quirino Avenue, and JP Laurel Street, for finishing touches and maintenance work.

who hoo good news. I hope its true.

^ i dont beleive it, very unpredictable

well, let's just wait. I trust BF can do it. Hope he would succeed!

^ i dont beleive it, very unpredictable

i tend to be a doubter though with BF controlling this project, I have reason to have hope and belief.

He added, "This should serve as a model for the metro. The route is what most visitors take from the airport to hotels, and to Malacañang."

...

Fernando said the project was more than just another facelift, because it aimed to promote order in the metropolis.

"We also have an information and disciplining effort, because those [living along the route] tend to go back to their old ways of doing laundry and hanging their clothes on the sidewalk, and walking around half-naked," said Fernando.

He added that while previous beautification efforts focused on covering up eyesores along major roads, the Investors' Route program sought to do the opposite.

"The general idea here is not to cover up, but to open the areas for commerce," Fernando said.


Don't want to rain on the parade, but this is a covering up. They're only targeting the roads that visitors use, which is basically a covering up of the rest of the city. Granted they do not have the funds to do the whole city, and that entails a lot more work, but this is some spin that Bayani is putting there. Sure, he's teaching people to be disciplined but this is in essence a covering up of the rest of the city, whose roads are not getting a facelift.

i agree.... but anyways.. I hope this would make the metro look better....

anyways... it says that the Macapagal Ave is included in the facelift... hmmm.. that avenue still looks good ahh....

Also McKinley... that's already a good looking road.

Anyway, yes I don't mean to say that it's a bad project because it's good that they're cleaning up those roads and they're investing in community education to keep up their beautification investment. I just wasn't very impressed by Bayani's saying it's not a cover-up. What a spin on things.

Actually i've noticed some improvements, especially in Mckinley. At C5, illegal structures are starting to give way to (shock) sidewalks!!!

Sucat exit from Makati is now free from shanties, stores and some small shops. Facelifted na. Hindi siya guwapo eh, pero maganda! hehehe Jolliebee andun pa rin...

Also McKinley... that's already a good looking road.

Anyway, yes I don't mean to say that it's a bad project because it's good that they're cleaning up those roads and they're investing in community education to keep up their beautification investment. I just wasn't very impressed by Bayani's saying it's not a cover-up. What a spin on things.

But you gotta start somewhere right? In our cash strapped government, im impressed that Bayani still can execute these projects. He cannot do ALL the metro in one go obviously. At least he is sincere in his work.

kahit hindi masyadong gwapo, bastat malinis tignan diba nakakagwapo ren . oh diba

I have a question....do they still have those "street sweepers" in Metro Manila? I think they're called Metro Aides? :dunno:

yup there are still street sweepers but no more Metro Aides.... most of the old Metro Aides were promoted by MMDA to become traffic aides... that's why many MMDA traffic guys don't even know the proper traffic rules...

some new street cleaners were the ones GMA dressed up with those blue shirt with big GMA logo during the election period of 2004

I have a question....do they still have those "street sweepers" in Metro Manila? I think they're called Metro Aides? :dunno:

Now they are called GMAides.

Is that so? For real?

yup.. for real..... the GMAides were very controversial last election period.... for the Administration had to spend a lot to dress up these street sweepers... and had them do this around the metro a few months before the 6month election period....

metro aides are not a good idea. IT just justifies Filipinos being lazy and throwing litter everywhere because they have people sweeping after them. and when they eat nobody busses the table. poor busboys have to bus for amillion pigs.

I'd like to believe that with BF at MMDA, nothing is impossible. The man is THE MAN! I like his leadership style, I admire his vision for MM & I salute him for making his vision a reality!

hey amigo thanks for that piece of info I used to live in Sucat and yeah the SLEX Sucat exit did look a bit dodgy even with the Jollibee. it was a big piece of intersection but it was kinda ungwapo if you know what I mean.

is fixing those messy powerlines part of the project?? i dont need to see fancy landscaped gardens, if they can just clear & refurbish the sidewalks, fix the cable lines, construct new & remodel the dilapidated walkways & fence the sidewalks to stop peds from jaywalkin, ok na... & use asphalt!!! kakadiri semento/asphalt magkahalo :(

^ yeah i don't think sidewalk maintanance cost a lot of money. clean sidewalks would be a good start and outlaw spitting like in Singapore. It's disgusting it's everywhere.

Spitting? What about urinating.

urinating is already illegal. spitting is not.

Don't want to rain on the parade, but this is a covering up. They're only targeting the roads that visitors use, which is basically a covering up of the rest of the city. Granted they do not have the funds to do the whole city, and that entails a lot more work, but this is some spin that Bayani is putting there. Sure, he's teaching people to be disciplined but this is in essence a covering up of the rest of the city, whose roads are not getting a facelift.

We do have limited resources. If we wanted to give the entire Metro a facelift, the project would be enormous. You'd have to start with a fire :D

^^ how about a nuke? :lol:

^^ how about a nuke? :lol:

nice one! then Metro Manila would be the first radioactive city...ala spider man, then we will see mutants and people with powers...coolness! :lol:

^^ Isn't Chernobyl the first "radioactive" city? :lol:

hey amigo thanks for that piece of info I used to live in Sucat and yeah the SLEX Sucat exit did look a bit dodgy even with the Jollibee. it was a big piece of intersection but it was kinda ungwapo if you know what I mean.


Sucat interchange really looks good now. Dati ang daming lasing dyan, may mga small pub haus kasi, restaurants, sari-sari store.

Calling all Metro Manilans - Magdamit ng MAAYOS at PRESENTABLE kahit saan, hindi lamang sa Investor's route.


Metro’s half-naked ‘machos’ be warned
By Michael Punongbayan
The Philippine Star 11/21/2005

Display a naked chest while walking along the investors’ route and face the wrath of the state for your machismo.

This was the warning Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Bayani Fernando issued yesterday to the hard-headed "macho men" of the cities of Parañaque, Makati and Manila who indulge in their bad habit of walking half-naked along side streets, particularly those lining the so-called "investor’s route."

He said persons who will sabotage the multimillion-peso project, intentionally or unintentionally, will suffer the consequences of their actions. Such sabotage includes walking about half-naked in public, engaging in drinking sprees on sidewalks and hanging laundry out to dry in full view of passersby.

Fernando said men caught walking in public places without shirts will be apprehended and fined.

The MMDA has been tasked to implement the national government’s "investor’s route" project which calls for the beautification of Metro Manila’s main thoroughfares.

Roads in Parañaque, Manila and Makati will undergo a major facelift in an effort to make the metropolis more inviting to tourists and foreign investors.

Fernando said President Arroyo has ordered the MMDA to implement the upgrading and beautification of the "investor’s route," a project that will cost P100 million.

He said some 48.7 kilometers of road leading to and from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) will be improved and beautified.

Fernando said areas of concern include main thoroughfares in Parañaque — the MIA and Domestic Roads and Roxas and Macapagal Boulevards.

In Manila, the routes of P. Burgos street to Nagtahan Road, Qurino Avenue to the Osmeña Highway and Buendia Avenue to Lawton Avenue will undergo facelifts and upgrading.

The MMDA will lead the repair and installation of new street and traffic lights, emergency bays, clean drainage systems, clear the roadsides of illegal structures and "taong grasa" or dirty, homeless people.

"We were ordered to work on this and finish substantial work at least on or before Christmas. We should already have begun the work but, actually, this can be completed in three months," Fernando said.

According to him the new project springs from the MMDA’s "Pook na Bulok, Negosyo ’di Papasok (Business Will Not Enter a Rotten Place)" program, which he said was a success.

Fernando said the agency will work together with local mayors of respective cities and municipalities for a coordinated effort to make Metro Manila shine.

The MMDA needs the cooperation of the public for the "investor’s route" project to succeed, Fernando says, citing what he calls the "people factor."

Tourists and investors will be discouraged if they see half-naked men walking in public places as if they were just strolling in their own backyards, Fernando said.

"All we ask of our gentlemen is (for them) to be gentlemen," Fernando said. "Dress appropriately in public places. Be presentable. Look good so Metro Manila will look good."

The MMDA will also be strict in enforcing sanctions against people who engage in drinking sprees on the sidewalks as well as those who hang clothes to dry in public view.

Fernando said seeing such things will not impress tourists or investors who may want to set up shop in the country.

-------

****Dress for Success!

Sa nude city na lang dalhin yung nahuhuling ayaw magdamit. hehehehe.

I like that Pook na bulok negosyo hindi papasok. Sana pati mga ihi ng ihi kung saan saan huleen at turuan ng leksyon. he he

Calling all Metro Manilans - Magdamit ng MAAYOS at PRESENTABLE kahit saan, hindi lamang sa Investor's route.


Metro’s half-naked ‘machos’ be warned
By Michael Punongbayan
The Philippine Star 11/21/2005

Display a naked chest while walking along the investors’ route and face the wrath of the state for your machismo.


:hahaha: :lol: :laugh: :rofl:

I like that Pook na bulok negosyo hindi papasok. Sana pati mga ihi ng ihi kung saan saan huleen at turuan ng leksyon. he he

Instead of posing "BAWAL UMIHI DITO" why they don't change it to "BAWAL IHI, PUTOL TITI"

^he he mas okey yan. mapala ng mga walang pake sa mundo.

BAWAL DURA, PUTOL DILA !!!!

Another good one! he he ^

BAWAL UNCOVERED HATCHING, ILONG BOXING !!!!!

The half-naked men who coudn't pay the fine willl be thrown out into the waters of Manila Bay.

Calling all Metro Manilans - Magdamit ng MAAYOS at PRESENTABLE kahit saan, hindi lamang sa Investor's route.


Metro’s half-naked ‘machos’ be warned
By Michael Punongbayan
The Philippine Star 11/21/2005

Display a naked chest while walking along the investors’ route and face the wrath of the state for your machismo.
Tourists and investors will be discouraged if they see half-naked men walking in public places as if they were just strolling in their own backyards, Fernando said.

"All we ask of our gentlemen is (for them) to be gentlemen," Fernando said. "Dress appropriately in public places. Be presentable. Look good so Metro Manila will look good."

The MMDA will also be strict in enforcing sanctions against people who engage in drinking sprees on the sidewalks as well as those who hang clothes to dry in public view.

Fernando said seeing such things will not impress tourists or investors who may want to set up shop in the country.

-------

****Dress for Success!

I wonder if they are to enforce these with sanctions if these will pass constitutional muster? Taking it to another exterme, what if it's pasyon and the person is engaging in panata, thus walking half-naked and shriving himself? This is then expression of religious freedom. Hmm.. My imagination is running wild again.

BAWAL UNCOVERED HATCHING, ILONG BOXING !!!!!

Bawal kulangot, putol daliri.

Bawal phlegma, putol ngala-ngala.

Bawal yosi, sunog baga.

bubblegum bawal idikit o kurot puwit

^ LOL!!! :lol:

Bawal tumitig ng malagkit, o mata tusok ng chopstick

walang patawad si Sandrin. Eh paano yung sa jeepney na dumidikit yung hita nung guys sa girls? I hated that.

Bawal bukaka, yagbols sipa.

mwahahaha

Bawal tsansing, putol utin

^^ :rofl:

okay uhhh I think you guys are getting a little carried away he he

boorish men bashing ba tayo?

Para matira lang and mga guapo sa hitsura, asal at ugali sa Metro Manila.

huh? eh papaano maiiwasan yung di magdidikit ang hita sa jeep?? mahirap yata yun..

huh? eh papaano maiiwasan yung di magdidikit ang hita sa jeep?? mahirap yata yun..

kung ayaw ng mga girls na dumikit hita nila sa mga lalaki sa jeep dapat siguro matuto na silang sumabit at wag na umupo sa loob.

o kaya wag nang sumakay sa jeep!! hirap minsan sa mga girls.. ang aarte.. kala eh parating ni tsa tsansingan.. eh di naman sila kagandahan! bwhahahaha

tapos minsan kung umupo eh dalawang tao na yung sinasakop.. tapos kahit puno na.. ayaw pa ring dumiretso..

^ Baka mataba he he.

hahahaha, he guys, bawal angal, o ngala-ngala buntal hahahha

kung ayaw ng mga girls na dumikit hita nila sa mga lalaki sa jeep dapat siguro matuto na silang sumabit at wag na umupo sa loob.

Eh kasi yung ibang lalaki dyan, ang laki-laki ng in-ooccupy na space. Nakabukaka ng sobra. Puede naman ng partial lang. Yung mga ladies, ipit na ipit na tuloy. Dapat katulad sa trains and subways. Kung ano lang ang allocated space mo, yung lang ang i-occupy mo.

Dito sa NY subways, ayaw nila ng dumidikit ang tao. Mas may distance and 'personal space' dito. Puede kaya to sa Pinas? Ewan lang.

kulit ni lili at sandrin!:D have you been drinking:lol: j/k

nway, on hanging clothes to dry in public view...i think manila already has an ordinance regarding this though hardly being implemented. the problem is in many apartments buildings there are not enough space to hang clothes. even the newly constructed ones.:doh:

they should hang them in the back where it's not visible.

of course they have space in the back but in many cases they are not enough. especially when the family is huge or there are many occupants in one unit (two or more families, extended families, transient relatives, student relatives).

I know it seems to average pinoy it's maarte but you know if we are trying to attract foreign tourists, maaarte yung mga yon ayaw makakita ng mga "eyesores" hindi sanay mata nila.

maybe this is also one way of educating the people of the benefits of a clean, organized, disciplined community. thank you marites:)

But I wonder how they can manage these things better without infringing on someone's right to have dry laundry in small spaces. When I went to Hong Kong, I remember seeing laundry hanging to dry out of windows in highrise government projects. But I found them quite artful to look at, rather than as eyesores. I guess zoning rules dictate that they should be in the backyard... things are more noticeable on the ground than from afar like those highrises in Hong Kong with the laundry hanging.

Eh kasi yung ibang lalaki dyan, ang laki-laki ng in-ooccupy na space. Nakabukaka ng sobra. Puede naman ng partial lang. Yung mga ladies, ipit na ipit na tuloy. Dapat katulad sa trains and subways. Kung ano lang ang allocated space mo, yung lang ang i-occupy mo.

Dito sa NY subways, ayaw nila ng dumidikit ang tao. Mas may distance and 'personal space' dito. Puede kaya to sa Pinas? Ewan lang.

Pwedeng pwede yan. Try mo lang wag maligo at mag toothbrush ng dalawang lingo at wala rin pabango tapos sumaky ka ng jeep or LRT/MRT sinisigurado ko sayo makukuha mo ang allocated space na para sayo pati na rin yong sa ibang pasahero.

Utot lang ng utot sa punong LRT.

Utot lang ng utot sa punong LRT.

sa tingin mo ba aamin ka na ikaw ang umutot sa punong LRT. Gusto mo bang mabugbog o di na makarating ng buhay sa estasyon na patutunguhan mo, sinisigurado ko ang baba mo non sa Pedro Gil para malapit sa Philippine General Hospital :D?

Pwedeng pwede yan. Try mo lang wag maligo at mag toothbrush ng dalawang lingo at wala rin pabango tapos sumaky ka ng jeep or LRT/MRT sinisigurado ko sayo makukuha mo ang allocated space na para sayo pati na rin yong sa ibang pasahero.

Baka lalo lang lumakas ang alindog ko nyan. Kasi yung natural hormones (pheromones) ko ang lakas ng dating. lol.

^ Di... umutot ka na lang.

^ Di puede. Mahiyain ako eh.

naku mas mabaho yan pag pinipigil.. lol

Di mo alam ang secret.

(Actually I find this kind of humor unsavory so hopefully this will be the last entry on that.)

I know it seems to average pinoy it's maarte but you know if we are trying to attract foreign tourists, maaarte yung mga yon ayaw makakita ng mga "eyesores" hindi sanay mata nila.

but i dont find this maarte at all, sinampay mo sa harap?? hello!!!

and frankly, mag-inarte man ako sa jeep, ala ko magagawa, jologs talaga mga pasajero dun, as in mababaho!!! :(

This foul smelling gas takes only a few seconds, eh yung mga korean and japanese tourist eh may body odor. Kailangan mo lumayo sa kanila. Aware naman yung isang korean engineer sa trabaho, lumalayo pag kakain na kami nasa kabilang dulo ng lamesa naupo lumalayo sa mga Pinoy.

HIndi naman mabaho mga korean baka kimchi lang yon. mabaho mga arabo he he

This foul smelling gas takes only a few seconds, eh yung mga korean and japanese tourist eh may body odor. Kailangan mo lumayo sa kanila. Aware naman yung isang korean engineer sa trabaho, lumalayo pag kakain na kami nasa kabilang dulo ng lamesa naupo lumalayo sa mga Pinoy.

Baka sila ang nababahuan sa food natin.

Wow, this conversation has digressed far from the original intention

I'm cross-posting this article originally posted by Kiretoce in the Tourism thread to bring the discussion back to the pertinent topic.

Pinoy Kasi : Naked sabotage
By Michael Tan Inquirer News Service Nov 23, 2005

Back in the days of the Ferdinand Marcos dictatorship, Imelda Marcos "beautified" her City of Man (Metro Manila) by building perimeter walls around squatter colonies.

Life's become more complicated since then. The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is pouring in P100 million to "beautify" what they call an "investor's route," improving and cleaning up roads leading to and from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, in an attempt to impress foreign visitors.

And for us the natives, we get billboards with Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo smiling sternly and warning: "Pook na Bulok, Negosyo di Papasok" .


[b]Economic sabotage

The signs have been up a few months now, and I've wondered what government's definition is of "rotten." Now we have the answer in the form of an MMDA directive, banning the public display of laundry, shirtless men and public drinking sprees. "Sabotage," MMDA Chair Bayani Fernando is quoted as describing these forms of rotten behavior.

Hmmm ... that's a really new take on economic sabotage, this business of naked drinking men and dirty laundry.

Let's look first at this business of drinking in public. A few weeks back, I wrote about a Chinese regional magazine (the Chinese Asiaweek) featuring Filipinos as the happiest people on earth. One "proof" they presented? There was a photograph accompanying that story showing a bunch of men drinking ... yes, out in the street, while floodwaters swirled around reaching almost up to their knees.

The Asiaweek photographer and writer, presumably Chinese, probably saw this as quaint. The MMDA recoils, calling it economic sabotage. I see it as the result, rather than a cause of economic sabotage: a country that can't generate enough jobs for its people, with the result the women have to slave away with all kinds of informal jobs, while the men toast their woes away.

The laundry out in the streets? I see that, too, as the result of economic sabotage. All around Asia I see governments pouring in money to low-cost housing. Just last week, I was in Malaysia where people earning less than 1,500 ringgit (P22,500) a month can avail themselves of government housing units at the equivalent of P3,000 a month.

Yes, that would make many professors of the University of the Philippines (UP) eligible, but that's another story. My point is that in the Philippines, government money for housing has been pilfered, so people have to live in shanties. When there's hardly enough living space in the first place, where do you think people are going to hang out their laundry?


"Bastos"

We go now to the shirtless machos. The MMDA ordinance is directed against men who are not just strutting around in the streets but even in construction sites, presumably offending the sensibilities of would-be investors.

All over the world, you see shirtless men out in the streets. In cold countries, the slightest hint of a sunny day brings out men who will bask, shirtless, on park benches. As for construction workers, many countries have safety regulations requiring a whole bunch of protective gear, which means the workers will keep their shirts on while working, but during breaks, especially on a summer day, the shirts will come off.

Offensive? I know my slip's showing, but I think the shirtless men can be quite delightful, even a tourist attraction. Brazil's a notorious example, where women and men, young and old, have no qualms about standing around in public half-naked. The foreigners stare, but for the Brazilians -- well, it's all as normal as having a shirt on.

It's all in the eye of the beholder, whether we interpret these scenes as "bastos" [obscene] or not, as I wrote in a column a few months back. In many parts of Asia, we allow different degrees of nakedness. In Tagalog, we even distinguish between "hubo" and "hubad," the former referring to the Oblation statues on UP campuses, and the latter to being exposed from the waist up.

Obscenity isn't related so much to the square inches of skin that's exposed than the context of exposure. A shirtless man out in the streets, often someone scratching away at his beer belly, is about as sensuous as "hubad na lumpia" (a spring roll with vegetables "exposed"), but in a dimly lit bedroom -- now, that's another matter.

A few years ago, there was a Hong Kong woman who went to court over the matter of shirtless construction workers, claiming she found them offensive. The court ruled against her. Freudian psychologists will probably speculate about the sexually repressed feelings behind the woman's lawsuit, as well as the beautification campaigns of Imelda Marcos and the MMDA.


Eyes and Heart

Conscious about the eyes of the beholder, let's review that MMDA ordinance on naked economic sabotage.

The dirty laundry in public? I'd worry more about potential investors seeing the long queues of urban poor women and children trying to get water for their laundry and other household needs.

The half-naked men? I had an American woman visitor recently, and she was, to say the least, awed by Bench's larger-than-life billboard ads for men's underwear, the models precariously teasing the boundaries between "hubad" and "hubo."

Potential investors will marvel at the market for underwear, but will also look for signs of economic activity in construction sites and infrastructure projects. And as they catch glimpses of the workers, it won't matter whether they have shirts on or not. I worry more about the visitors seeing workers -- often completely clothed -- just sitting by chatting or ogling women passersby, a billboard behind them proclaiming the site as a government project, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo beaming away and promising the project completion date -- sometime back in 2004.

The drinking sessions? What matters isn't whether it's done in private or public, with shirts on or off. What's obscene is when the men are jobless and perpetually idle, using their wives' or mothers' hard-earned money and the government having nothing to offer them, except promises of more overseas jobs.

All said, shouldn't we be asking why government is cracking down on the shirtless drinking men while busing in tourists to the bars of Pasay City and Angeles City where they can go on drinking sprees while gawking at our women as they strip -- and more?

Nothing, too, can be more obscene, more symptomatic of our social rot, than the droves of children sent out to the streets to sell sampaguita at midnight and, these days, knocking on car windows with a "Meri Krismas," an ill-disguised way of begging even as their President claims, in a speech before the UN General Assembly, that we don't need family planning, that development will eventually eradicate poverty.

We worry too much about what's public, what's visible to the eye. Let's worry a bit more, as a nation, about what's in our heart -- if we still have it.

thankyou^

Bakit Pink ang Urinals at karamihan sa mga structures na itinatayo ng MMDA?
Anyone who knows why? Kasi hindi seryosong kulay ang pink. Why not blue or...blue na lang. wala ako maisip na iba eh.

Well, Bench's billboards actually feature HOT shirtless men in them...

Bakit Pink ang Urinals at karamihan sa mga structures na itinatayo ng MMDA?
Anyone who knows why? Kasi hindi seryosong kulay ang pink. Why not blue or...blue na lang. wala ako maisip na iba eh.

I guess para madaling makita. Wala kasing gumagamit ng ganyang kulay sa mga structures sa kalye.

Fernando: MM finally awakens

By Ferdinand Fabella

IF Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Bayani Fernando were to be asked, the country’s biggest metropolis with a population of over 10 million has undergone a major transformation since he assumed office more than three years ago.

“After so much conflict and controversy, I’m happy that Metro Manila has finally awakened. The seeds we have planted are now bearing fruit,” said Fernando, adding that he was glad the public is now appreciating the various programs and projects he had introduced and completed.

Fernando said most local government units, several of which opposed some of MMDA’s projects, are now starting to adapt some of the agency’s activities, such as sidewalk clearing.

He particularly cited Makati City, whose mayor, Jejomar Binay is a known critic of MMDA.

Makati has started its own sidewalk clearing operations in compliance with MMDA Resolution 02-28 approving the all-out campaign against sidewalk vendors and obstructions.

Fernando said he is inviting LGUs to join MMDA’s sidewalk clearing operations so they could learn something from them.

Fernando was appointed MMDA chief in June 2002. Since then, he had become one of the most popular and visible Cabinet members of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo administration.

Fernando said the MMDA has also helped instill discipline among motorists and pedestrians.

Fernando said there have been great improvements in Metro Manila’s major thoroughfares, including pink pedestrian footbridges, transport terminals and other useful traffic devices, including controversial male urinals.

Asked what has been the key to MMDA’s success, he said it was determination, coupled by “some intimidation and quick action.”

“Through systematic and determined campaign, there is really nothing impossible. What I did in Marikina was also done in the entire Metro Manila,” he said.

In a related development, Metro Manila’s Solid Waste Management Board (MMSWMB), also headed by Fernando, reported that 1,105 of the 1,693 barangays in Metro Manila, or 70.58 percent, have been collecting garbage from every home in their neighborhoods, easing the piles of garbage in the metropolis.

Fernando introduced the system that forced households and commercial establishments to collect their own garbage until trucks come to pick them up.

“At least the LGUs are now realizing that door-to-door is an effective way of keeping our streets clean,” Fernando said.

The MMSWMB also indicated that all the 17 city and municipal governments in the National Capital Region have come up with their own systems to improve garbage collection.

In its latest report to, the board stated that five localities in the region, namely the cities of Makati, Valenzuela, Marikina and the municipalities of Pateros and Navotas have fully complied with the door-to-door garbage collection.

In Quezon City, 98 percent of its barangays have complied with the door-to-door policy; 84.62 percent in Muntinlupa; 80 percent in San Juan, Parañaque and Manila and Taguig has 60 percent.

Mandaluyong, on the other hand, has 44 percent compliance rate; 36.17 percent in Caloocan; 35 percent in Las Piñas; 32 percent in Pasay and Malabon has the lowest compliance with only 29 percent.

Apart from the door-to-door collection LGUs have also established several collection points or area where residents can put their trash and will be collected by the garbage truck at the end of the day.

Most of the collection points were put up in markets and near the areas where garbage trucks could not enter.

Metro Manila is producing an average of 7,000 tons of garbage per day, which is dumped separately in four disposal facilities maintained by MMDA: The Rodriguez sanitary landfill, Payatas controled disposal facility, Navotas dump and the landfill in Clark Field in Pampanga.

I think another step after an efficient door-to-door garbage collection Metro Manila-wide is how to make better use of that trash besides just dumping it. I'm not an expert or knowledgeable at incinirators but how much pollution would it create and is it worth building? :?

any pics of the fruitions of GWAPO project.

Ok na sana yung project ng MMDA sa garbage collection. Kaya lang hindi nila mai-implement ang segregation. If this can't start in individual houses, why not designate a certain garbage collection for every baranggay or subdivision and do the segregation there? I'm sure ang dami pang mapapakinabangan sa basura diyan (paper, bottles, plastic materials etc). If they succeed in segregating the garbage they collect and send reusable materials to recycling plants, I'm sure they can cut the garbage volume in half. Even more perhaps.

i know that the recycling industry in Australia has an annual profit turn over of $2 billion. Imagine the benefits of recycling to the philippines and to the economy.

And a city in Japan, trucks that collect garbage run from fuel derived from the very garbage it collects! Cool isn't it? We already have that kind of methane technology here in the country. Kulang lang sa initiative yung ibang tamad na officials.

Well in Belgium and here in Australia there are three bins or bags in which grass, glass, bottles and paper and trash are all segregated by the homeowners. The local government already picks up the trash from them, I think it should be up to the people at home to put the recyclables into separate places. I agree with bulakenyo

We have segregation here. The trash truck will not pick up the wrong kind of trash on the wrong day. We're also suppiosed to compose (in fact it's a hassle because some neigbors burn their trash which is not good too).

That methan technology was used by maya farms in antipolo in the 80's pa! But it's expensive to set up that's why it has not taken off in a big way.

Let's also remember that pinoys have much less garbage than developed countries (this is a true even for most third world countries). If I remember correctly the average waste disposal per person is less than 1/5th. It's just that MM is not a small place jsut as big as Australia if you count the whole agglomoration plus it's super dense where the central core of 10 million live. Plus more importantly people in general do not believe that they should be paying for the disposal of garbage!

It will also be a big help if people with enough space in the backyard can make a compost pit or a compost bin to mix soil with the biodegradable wastes such as vegetables and fruit peels, egg shells & leaves. In a compost pit, just dig in a few square feet of soil and bury the biodegradable waste. In a compost bin, you can use a big old water container (preferably plastic because metal drum can produce chem reaction in the long run), put layers of soil, biodegradable waste, soil, biodeg waste alternately. Allow a bit of an air to get in, but be sure to cover the container and mix it every once in a while.
I guarantee you, after a few months the loam soil will be an absolutely healthy medium for growing fruits, vegetables, and flowering plants in return.

hehehe... kulet ng mga tag lines a... for those who hang clothes where they can be seen ... ITAGO ANG SAMPAY O SUSUNUGIN ANG BAHAY!!! hehehe... yeah...

Ang basurang itinapon mo babalek sayo. grrr ang titigas at kukulet ng ule ng mga pinoy..

^ what do you mean?

yeah.. if every household has a compost pit.. it would be great... but of course this will not be true for those living in the urbanized areas.... actually some problems on garbage disposal.. is as the article says.. in Caloocan only about 36% is complied... there are a lot of areas.. probably most of North Caloocan which is not complying.. dump trucks accept any kind of trucks segregated or not... and some areas were still even not reached by garbage trucks..

i think we should think of more creative ways to manage our trash... composting is an age old method which i think is no more effective in our present environment specially in the city... door to door maybe effective for now but we should always think further in the future... i think it would be great if the garbage could be be converted into energy like in other countries... waste water recycling could be taken off from the example of singapore... the technology may not be cheap but it is better than having to live in an inhabitable environment...

Many interesting point of views in this debate. All requiring money.

and all the money we need comes from the government... which i might say hard to get.

yeah... maybe... but i think it would be cheaper in the near future.. there are already great advancements in green technology... there is already a kind of thread that could be woven into fabrics and act as solar cells.. so you could plug your mobile or laptop directly to your clothes... savings in using renewable energy could be used to aid in the management of garbage and other earth harmful materials... maybe costly at first but could prove vital and cost efficient in the long run... hey, it's cheaper than buying a new planet to live on... :)

B.F. very good. his plans are benefitable to d people! in 3 years time the "gwapo" projct will be very visible to d eye esp. the greeneries in the roads!

^im sorry whose B.F btw, is that the MMDA president that was taken away of power.

Yes, Its Bayani Fernando.

education can help clean up metro manila..

Yup BF the one binay and Atienza are trying to boot out. Ayaw masapawan. bastards.

^^ Alam nilang maganda ang ginagawa ni BF pero gusto nila yung estyle nilang bulok.

I found a link on MMDA great projects. If not for those bastard sourgrapers (Binay and company) MMDA wouldn't have had a hard time implementing such important projects especially those concerning Metro Manila traffic.

www.mmda.gov.ph/projects.html

thanks for that bulakenyo. The bastards don't want to beautify Manila under Bayani;s watch because that would reinforce how inept and futile they are.

politically speaking... if atienza and binay give BF all the glory, it would sure make atienza and binay's chances for higher office... disappear. (just like alfredo lim who was then mayor of manila and now a senator.)

it was persieved that local governement officials who do well in their districts reflect to the whole nation and in return they are given more chances for national office.

and in this case... BF is only servicing the Metro... and if his "gwapo" project succeeds... it is most likely that we will see him in a higher national office in the future...

this explains why some MM mayors just dont want BF to remove the spotlight from them. :bash: :)

^^ politics in the Philippines is nasty! halata yun mga tactics nila, sobrang upfront pa! mga walang hiya!

^^ politics in the Philippines is nasty! halata yun mga tactics nila, sobrang upfront pa! mga walang hiya!

agree... sobrang halata ito. :bash: only idiots wouldnt notice it. :cheers: :)

i hope that "gwapo" project succeeds... hehehe... slap at the face of binay... *whappak!* :righton:

It is also one good thing GMA did. the cars are actually moving, the streets are cleaner, the floods are subsiding ,it just kills the opposition when GMA makes a good decision.

All the mayors should be riding this BF initiative to get some pogi points, billboards with their faces in it and possibly a seat in the House of Reps or the Upper House.

It's just like a giant Sim City 4 except 20 or so people are running the region.

naalala ko pala... i attended this certain "metropolitan governance" forum at UP diliman a few months back... dami ng speakers... namely, joey lina, imelda marcos, bayani fernando, binay... etc. (imagine... binay and fernando under one roof...) buti nga hindi sila nagsampalan...

imelda made kwento... dati pala she was the "governor" of manila... she was running then the MMDA (iba ung name nya dati... how stupid of me... i forgot)

actually... from this forum... i learned that metro manila needs another political division... imagine... diba ang province may governor... then the governor works with the mayors... diba maganda if we apply this to MM..?

metro manila will have a governor... (NOTE: with a CLEAR mandate)... un kase ang reklamo with mmda... walang clear mandate... its like they're not sure kung anong powers ba talaga nila. diba?
hehehe... :cheers2:

the governor in turn... will work with the city/municipal mayors... diba...?
BUT... as we all know politics... my god. as i said sa dati kong post... kung c BF nga na chair ng MMDA na wlang malinaw na mandato ay kinakatakutan ng mga MM mayors... lalo pa kaya kung may malinaw nang mandato ito... kung cno man ang uupo pa dito... kasi if we make it "the governor of metro manila" iboboto xa ng tao... un nga lang... most probabaly artista nanaman... pero kakatakutan to ng mga MM mayors... and they'll do everything to drag him down. :) yadiyadiyada politics. :cheers2:

246 Parañaque houses to get facelift for free



By CHITO A. CHAVEZ

A total of 246 dilapidated houses in Parañaque City will undergo beautification and repair as part of the "Metro Gwapo’’ program of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).


MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando said the agency will start the face-lifting drive along Imelda Avenue, Sucat Road, N. Aquino Avenue and Dr. Santos Avenue in a bid to project a positive image to tourists coming from the airport.

He stressed that the dilapidated houses and commercial establishments in the area will be fixed and repainted free of charge in line with President Arroyo’s "Urban Fix-Up’’ program, a project connected with the "Metro Gwapo’’ project of the MMDA.

Fernando said the cleanup and sprucing up of Metro Manila is part of another "Metro Gwapo’’ component that is the "Pook na Bulok Negosyo Di Papasok’’ program that aims to entice foreign and local businessmen to invest in the metropolis.

The drive involves the continuous cleaning and clearing of sidewalks to project an image of a business friendly atmosphere that has eluded the metropolis with the recent rallies and demonstrations.

Fernando has also instructed MMDA Sidewalk Clearing Operations Group chief Bobby Esquivel to concentrate on clearing the water easement to minimize flooding incidents in Metro Manila.

Local business experts noted that constant flooding and the perennial problem of traffic congestion has discouraged foreign investors from setting up their businesses in the country.

Being the country’s show window, the MMDA has initiated an ambitious bid to beautify and conduct face-lifting innovations, including state of the art landscape designs, to spur economic development and the tourism industry.

Fernando appealed to household owners to have the initiative of maintaining the cleanliness of their surroundings to uplift the country’s economy from the doldrums of poverty.

Early last year, the MMDA conducted similar activities where 200 houses and commercial buildings along the South Super Highway, Quirino Avenue and Barangay Pildera in Pasay City were given fix-up jobs.

Fernando said the initial cosmetic jobs were done as foreign delegates trooped to the country to attend the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly at the Philippine International Convention Center.

"It can be done. This is not just a one-time project for the IPU but a continuing one to improve the image of Metro Manila abroad, to lure more foreign investors and to help uplift the country’s economy,’’ Fernando added.

The MMDA estimates that the face lifting of key sites in Parañaque would entail a P1-million expense.


http://www.mb.com.ph/issues/2006/03/17/MTNN2006031758929.html

if im not mistaken yan din ung ginagawa ni mcf sa marikina. nakikita ko kasi ung houses na ang likod ay nakaharap sa marcos high way ay inayusan nila para hindi messy ang look. :)

maybe imelda was there to create a power coup and retain her governesship of MM:D

seriously.. um.. how come only 246 of the millions are being fixed?

ung nakikita lang ung aayusin nila... kaya siguro "gwapo" kasi gwapo nga mabaho naman. :) hehehe... i mean... gwapo nga mabaho naman ang kalooban... walang change na nangyari. ung labas lang,. :(

As far as I'm concerned, Binay is the one who needs a "gwapo" project or facelift rather.

^^ oo nga... :lol:

:lol:
Replicas of MMDA’s pink urinals now circulating the world
The Philippine Star 03/22/2006

Replicas of Metro Manila Development Authority’s (MMDA) pink urinals are now circulating the world.

In fact, miniature models of the pink public toilets are now sitting in office desks and conference rooms in Singapore, Germany, and Canada.

MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando, who has been distributing his miniature little pink urinals to government officials abroad as a personal gift, said the world now knows of Metro Manila’s pee stops.

"At first they are curious, you have to give them a little background of what it is. They are amused and happy," he told The Star in an interview.

Fernando said the head of Vancouver, Canada’s Metropolitan Government, his counterpart, was very happy to have one when he gave him the gift early this year.

"Ambassadors, mayors and our hosts who welcome us in study trips receive these little gifts," he said.

According to Fernando, the pink urinalconcept is one-of-a-kind and the only place where he saw the same concept was in Amsterdam where male public toilets are made of cast iron.

Fernando said he has been giving out the miniature pink urinals as gift items for almost a year now since his birthday in July last year.

"I had them made at my personal expense. I had about 2,000 replicas made and about 300 were given away abroad," he said.

At present, there are some 500 pink urinals in Metro Manila found near roads, malls, transport terminals and other places where people converge.

Some consider these public toilets as health hazards or eyesores but Fernando maintains that these pee stops are serving its purpose.

The very boxes that contain his miniature urinals note that pee booths "may be smelly, and short in providing a concealed ambiance to the private process of liquid waste excretion, but it sure does the job."

The background also notes that men used to seek relief against walls, behind posts, or any other place believed to be least exposed to public view.

"Today, there is a more convenient and civil way to do it and this has become a symbol of discipline," Fernando said, admitting that the male urinals "may be smelly, but a bit more dignified."

He disclosed that more communities are asking for pink urinals to be put up in their areas.

The MMDA is continuously trying to find more ways to keep the public toilets clean with the help of the public and community-based people’s organizations. — Michael Punongbayan

^^^ Haha... what a dork... :)

they need to find a way to make the place clean. i know it's pink but just putting up a tube there won't be much use say if... a chewed-up gum was plugged in there. Aapaw yung ihi, ano kaya ang mangyayari :D

^^^ EEEeewwww

Maganda yung hitsura nung mga elevated U-turn slots. Sayang hindi natuloy. Ganda sana tingnan sa EDSA. And it will ease bottlenecking of vehicles in the U-turn areas.

Beautification drive rushed


By CHITO A. CHAVEZ

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has intensified its beautification drive along the "Investors’ Corridors’’ of Metro Manila, giving itself until the end of this month to complete the work.


Metropolitan Landscape Management Office (MLMO) Director Gloria Sarrol said she has pooled her personnel in a series of meetings to ensure that they meet the target completion date set by MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando.

"He has given March 31 as the deadline to finish the work at the investors’ route,’’ Sarrol said.

President Arroyo has ordered Fernando to lead a multi-agency campaign to spruce up key areas in the metropolis in a bid to spur economic development in Metro Manila.

Fernando has concentrated the beautification process on known travelers’ routes in Metro Manila, which serves as the country’s show window, in the hope of encouraging local and foreign investors to put up their businesses in the country.

The major thoroughfares and secondary roads leading to Malacañang, the domestic and international airports, financial centers and entertainment nightspots frequented by tourists are included in the MMDA’s beautification program.

Sarrol said at least 50 carpenters were assigned by the MMDA to conduct repair and painting jobs of dilapidated homes and other structures located within the investors’ route to get rid of all eyesores.

Aside from fixing old and damaged houses, the MMDA Sidewalk Clearing Operation Group has cleared the sidewalks and road right-of-ways along the investors’ routes of illegal vendors and other obstructions.

The "Investors’ Corridor’’ consists of NAIA Avenue, MIA Road, Roxas/Macapagal Blvd. P. Burgos-Nagtahan, Quirino Avenue-South Super Highway, Buendia-Lawton Avenue and Sales-Andrew’s Ave.-Domestic Road-Airport Road.

"We are working overtime to get the work done even before the deadline,’’ Sarrol said.

At present the MLMO is in the midst of rehabilitating and making improvements on the makeshift houses along the route to make them eye-pleasing to foreign investors and local businessmen.

The beautification program of the MMDA is the continuation of a similar drive in Metro Manila last year when hundreds of Inter-Parliamentary Union delegates attended a conference held at the Philippine International Convention Center.

In a related development, Fernando brushed aside charges of human rights violation following the demolition of shanties and confiscation of the wares of illegal vendors.

He reiterated that no one has the right to use the sidewalks or any government property for any individual commercial purpose. He said the law breakers are the ones committing human rights violations.

Similarly, Fernando said sidewalks are for pedestrians and may not be used to build clotheslines to hang clothes or be made as laundry areas or be transformed to entertainment sites where people can hold parties or drinking sessions.

http://www.mb.com.ph/MTNN2006032659710.html

House OKs P1.095-B budget of MMDA

P487 million earmarked for waste disposal management

By CHITO CHAVEZ

The House of Representatives has approved the P1.095 billion budget for 2006 of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) without cuts or any opposition from its members.


MMDA Assistant General Manager (AGM) for Finance Edenison Fainsan said that MMDA officials heaved a sigh of relief when the agency encountered smooth sailing during the budget hearing.

Other government agencies experienced large budget cuts while controversial department heads and Cabinet members were grilled by the congressmen to justify their proposed annual budget.

"We including Chairman Bayani Fernando, were happy with the outcome of the budget hearing last Tuesday night for there was no opposition from the congressmen when we presented the agency’s 2006 budget," Fainsan added.

The panel of congressmen who questioned Fernando asked only a few questions in stark contrast to last year’s budget hearing when the MMDA chief had to go through the proverbial eye of the needle to have the MMDA budget approved.

Fainsan noted the MMDA has more elbow room to provide the public with improve service since this year’s approved budget is slightly higher that last year's P1.086-billion budget.

With the slight budget increase, the MMDA rankand-file hopes Fernando would have no problem acceding to the release of the benefits that the cash-strapped employees are entitled to especially during the period of economic crisis.

Of the P1.095-billion MMDA budget for 2006, R487 million goes to the waste disposal management P298-million is allotted flood control, P177 million is earmarked for traffic management while the rest is for the expenses in foreign-assisted projects of the MMDA.

The MMDA is originally seeking a P5-million allotment the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).


http://www.mb.com.ph/MTNN2006032659717.html

A General Manager from MMDA was interviewed in Neil Ocampo's radio program (DZMM) this morning and discussion was the pink urinals. It was pointed to the GM that most of the pink urinals are now badly damaged/defaced. MMDA's action plans include rehabilitation/repainting and cleaning/washing the urinals more often. On top of this, strainers will installed to prevent clogging of "pee tubes". Since the urinals have no water supply for flushing, MMDA aides are tasked to clean/wash the urinals as appropriate.



they need to find a way to make the place clean. i know it's pink but just putting up a tube there won't be much use say if... a chewed-up gum was plugged in there. Aapaw yung ihi, ano kaya ang mangyayari :D

Wala na ba talagang iba pang alternative sa pink urinals na yan?

^^ Or, we can indebt MMDA by buying expensive removable toilets hehehehe....

^^ wala naman sigurong umiihi sa kung saan-saan dyan. meron ba?


at dahil may urinals, kaya ginagamit. eh kung alisin na lang kaya. :D

kung alisin, babalik ang pag-ihi sa pader.

kawawa ang metro aide na maglilinis ng urinal. bulok na talaga ang ibang urinal eh. gross.

^^ wala naman sigurong umiihi sa kung saan-saan dyan. meron ba?

at dahil may urinals, kaya ginagamit. eh kung alisin na lang kaya. :D

meron po, ako :(. saksi po si dancethingy, r-mar at rence :D sensya na po wala lang talaga ma-ihian nong panahon na yon.

It's not a bad idea to have the urinals. Maybe people are just objecting to the pink. But they also have public urinals... exposed public urinals in other places. Many in Europe.

Amsterdam, Holland (some of these are over 100 years old so our MMDA technology really hasn't progressed much from 19th century Europe!)
http://www.urinal.net/magere_brug/
http://www.urinal.net/prinsengracht/
http://www.urinal.net/stadhouders_kade/

also in Amsterdam. This will really deter peeing in public in the Philippines. Talk about shame in action.
http://www.urinal.net/leidseplein/

Amsteldijk, Holland
http://www.urinal.net/amsteldijk/

Toulouse, France. O eto... pink rin!
http://www.urinal.net/toulouse/

Here's an antique one in the Borromean Island, Italy
http://www.urinal.net/borromean_island/

Here's another antique in Lisbon, Portugal.
http://www.urinal.net/lisbon_public/

London, England... Just like the one in Amsterdam. Now this one is REALLY public. I'd take the Philippines over this one. These are actually taken out physically and cleaned by London government. So that's a "plus." Removable for off-site maintenance.
http://www.urinal.net/charing_cross/

New York, New York. How about this one. We can have a similar one running along long stretches of Edsa. The longest urinal in the world.
http://www.urinal.net/ny_marathon/

I guess my point is that we're not an aberration for having urinals on the street. Even if they are rudimentary urinals. Because many of these cities have similar ones and have been in continuous use for over a century in different places. And they're not much more elaborate than ours. I think Bayani should make them even more permanent and less breakable. It's really a fact of life that we have to pee. And especially along the highway, where we can sometimes be far from public establishments where we have to buy something to use their restroom, we need these so that people aren't peeing on the walls. Or worse, peeing on themselves. I think this is a public health issue not just a discipline issue.

Just in case you're wondering, Philippines also has an entry at this website. I submitted the photo. They wanted one of the interior, but I don't have a picture of the interior. Somebody feel free to send them an update with interior shots.
http://www.urinal.net/manila/

^^ ah ok. hindi naman pala tayu nag-iisa. :D

i like that one in new york... imposibleng may umihi pa sa pader... :)

it actually looks like a gutter. :) :lol:

more news...

MMDA gears up for Metro makeover
By Michael Punongbayan
The Philippine Star 04/01/2006

Following the success of the Investor’s Corridor Project which rehabilitated and spruced up roads and streets leading to and from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) , the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is now gearing up for a bigger project intended to brighten up unsightly areas all over the metropolis.

MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando said the agency’s "Metro Gwapo" program will soon be launched to give the metropolis a "face lift."

The pat on the back he received from President Arroyo for doing an outstanding job in sprucing up NAIA in order to attract tourists and prospective investors has apparently inspired him into further improving Metro Manila’s thoroughfares.

Fernando said the agency is going full blast with the Metro Gwapo program as preparations are underway to undertake a total makeover of areas initially in the cities of Parañaque, Manila, Pasay and Quezon City.

Mrs. Arroyo reportedly lauded the MMDA’s success in its Investor’s Corridor Project during an inspection tour of links and arterial roads leading to the NAIA Terminal 3 at the Villamor Airbase in Pasay City last week.

During the inspection tour, the President approved Fernando’s proposed rotunda intersection system at Andrews Avenue and Manlunas Aveue of the NAIA Terminal 3 to ensure smooth vehicular traffic flow in the area.

Fernando has come up with slogans on education and enforcement of rules and regulations for dissemination to residents of Metro Manila on how to conduct themselves properly to ensure the success of the Metro Gwapo project.

These include Walang Sagabal: Lansangan ay Ligtas, Mabilis; Walang Nakakainis; Walang Kalat; Walang Pook na Bulok: Maganda, Hindi Nakakatakot; Walang Sakit-Hangin, Tubig at Pagkain ay Malinis; Walang Mabaho: Kanal at Sapa ay Malinis; Walang Bastos: May Urbanidad; Hindi Nakakasakit ng Kapwa; and Kaisa: The Metro Way.

"This is a good opportunity to showcase our country and there is no better opportunity for us to do so than to provide our full support to this activity," Fernando said.

Again showcasing his amusing slogans in his battlecries, he noted that "Kung Metro Gwapo, Tao ay Ganado, Kung Metro Gwapo, Tayong Lahat ay Nagiging Gwapo."

I'm curious to see how this "Investor's Corridor Project" improved the streets leading up to the airport. If anyone has a chance, please take pics:)

^^ Good news that they will be expanding the Facelift! :)

^^of course it's being led by a man who like pink and purple as his primary colors, so expect a pink and purple city

Can someone post pics of the improvements made please! A before and after shot would be great too. THanks!

I dont think anyone can give you a before and after comparo...but an "after" shot would do!:)

MMDA sees improvement in waste disposal system



By CHITO CHAVEZ

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is urging the public to strictly adhere to the door-to-door garbage collection as it reported an improvement in the solid waste management system of the agency in Metro Manila.


MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando said there has been a significant improvement in garbage collection in the metropolis. But still, the agency is leaving no stones unturned in further improving waste management in Metro Manila, he said.

He said bringing household waste only when the garbage collectors arrive in a particular community would help a lot in cleaning up the metropolis.

On a regular basis, the MMDA, in coordination with local government units (LGU), closely monitors the door-to-door garbage collection system down to the barangay level to ensure its proper implementation.

The Solid Waste Management Board of Metro Manila recently reported that cities and municipalities of the metropolis have adopted the system based on their respective regulations on waste disposal except Valenzuela City, Manila and Caloocan City.

Aside from ordinances on the door-to-door garbage collection policy, Fernando said private garbage haulers are mandated by law in Quezon City and Parañaque City to adhere to the regulations specified under the order.

Fernando said LGUs are responsible for the garbage collection in their respective areas.

As for the agency’s role on this matter, Fernando said the MMDA monitors the main roads, inner streets, sidewalks, road shoulders and other areas in the metropolis and informs the concerned LGUs if trash and waste materials are piling up in their jurisdiction.

Fernando said his men take photos of problem areas and submit them to local authorities.

The MMDA also provides assistance in clearing obstructions in local roads that the LGUs are unable to remove.

Aside from being eyesores, piles of waste materials, emit foul stench and attract flies, cockroaches, mosquito and other disease-carrying insects which pose tremendous risk to public health, Fernando said.

He warned restaurants, other establishments and the public in general not to dump their wastes on rivers, canals, creeks, esteros, and other major waterways in the metropolis.

He said the MMDA is up to the task of keeping the roads clean.

http://www.mb.com.ph/issues/2006/04/04/MTNN2006040460586.html

70 percent completion of ‘Metro Gwapo’ offered as gift to GMA


By CHITO A. CHAVEZ

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Bayani Fernando said the 70 percent accomplishment on the "Metro Gwapo’’ project is a fitting birthday gift of the Metro Manila mayors to President Arroyo.
Only four mayors – Florencio Bernabe of Parañaque, Imelda Aguilar of Las Piñas, Rosendo Capco of Pateros and Marides Fernando of Marikina – joined the MMDA in its "Metro Gwapo’’ tour while the other local chief executives of the 17 cities and towns in the metropolis sent representatives.
Fernando reiterated that the beautification and sprucing up project aims to entice foreign and local businessmen to invest in the country, with Metro Manila serving the focal point since it is the nation’s show window to the world.
"With this project, we expect our local chief executives to beautify their jurisdiction,’’ Fernando added as he toured the group along the 42-kilometer Investors’ Corridor.
The tour started on President Osmeña Highway going to Manila via Malacañang on to Ayala Blvd. and Finance Road, NAIA Terminal 1 to Pasay City ending in Marikina City where Mayor Fernando was the host.
"The all-out support of the mayors for Metro Gwapo which has earned accolades from the President is also their gift to her on her birthday,’’ Fernando noted.
The national government has initially earmarked P100 million for the Investors Corridor project as the beautification program started in the commercial and residential areas of Marikina City, Makati City, Manila, Pasay City, Taguig City, and Parañaque City.
Fernando claimed that business activities in the country improved by leaps and bounds since the MMDA initiated the beautification drive in key sections of the metropolis.
He cited the President for pouring financial assistance to the ambitious project as evidenced by the steady rise in the number of local and foreign tourists and investors since the program’s inception.
As part of the Metro Gwapo project, Marikina and Parañaque vowed to relocate to suitable resettlement sites the 1,000 and 1,500 informal settlers, respectively, of the two localities.
Fernando stressed that the beautification drive are only the marginal points of the Metro Gwapo project as the MMDA ultimately aims to restore safety and order in the metropolis to spur more economic activities and progress.


http://www.mb.com.ph/MTNN2006040660800.html

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/jef7/Manila2006150.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/jef7/Manila2006156.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/jef7/Manila2006155.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/jef7/Manila2006149.jpg

^^ Thanks for the update!!!

matatapos na ba yung Nichols interchange sa skyway? anyways, nice pics jef7, sa 1st to 3rd pic, anong names ng avenues na yan? never been there kasi eh, dun parati kasi sa kabila... hahaha

dapat ayusin narin ang mga hazardous/unsafe hanging wires dyan, mga t.v., phones, and other electric wirings/cables, na dapat gawing subcables (ibaon sa lupa) na silang lahat para mas maayos narin tignan at mas-safe pa yan para sa ating mga mamayanan...

^^ oongah, parang states... hahaha :) pero kaya kaya? :(

matatapos na ba yung Nichols interchange sa skyway? anyways, nice pics jef7, sa 1st to 3rd pic, anong names ng avenues na yan? never been there kasi eh, dun parati kasi sa kabila... hahaha

Sorry KiBeN I'm actually not familiar with the names of the road, but as you can probably guess, the first one is a shot of the road that cuts across Villamor Air Base then leads to NAIA Terminal 3. It extends all the way as you can see on the third picture. The second picture is the road that leads to the old NAIA Terminal 1 and the last one is along SLEX, an exit heading to the new airport.

This project needs some major media exposure. Aren't they sending press releases to foreign media?

Cool, thanks for the pics:) it has improved! sidewalks are clean (but i still see some garbage in the third pic), streets are well paved, road and roadsides are re-painted...nice:) Hope they continue to do this in all parts of MM - especially EDSA.

matatapos na ba yung Nichols interchange sa skyway? anyways, nice pics jef7, sa 1st to 3rd pic, anong names ng avenues na yan? never been there kasi eh, dun parati kasi sa kabila... hahaha
Andrews Ave

Cool, thanks for the pics:) it has improved! sidewalks are clean (but i still see some garbage in the third pic), streets are well paved, road and roadsides are re-painted...nice:) Hope they continue to do this in all parts of MM - especially EDSA.
some parts of EDSA if not most are in dire need of repair. The roads are horrendous. This would be one great accomplishment if they can repair EDSA as its the main artery of MM. I'm waiting for the day and i will be so happy and proud.

This project is good. There's actually this sign in Marikina on a bridge by the sports complex that highlights the guapo project. It says GUAPO and other things on it that is quite refreshing yet funny.

there are also signs of the gwapo project scattered across marcos highway... they actually started painting the sidewalks and cleaning up the back side of the houses facing marcos highway.

They should eliminate all traffic lights from EDSA.

huh? why?

richard, san ka sa Antipolo? malapit ako sa Marcos Highway


there are also signs of the gwapo project scattered across marcos highway... they actually started painting the sidewalks and cleaning up the back side of the houses facing marcos highway.

huh? why?

Its a good idea to remove all the lights and intersections and make EDSA a freeflowing highway again with overpasses and the like. it would probably help the traffic situation a little bit.

Yeah, make it completely access controlled.

Does anyone have pictures of the cleared tracks? Please post....

Home along the riles no more
Posted: 7:26 AM | Apr. 16, 2006
Inquirer

http://money.inq7.net/topstories/view_topstories.php?yyyy=2006&mon=04&dd=16&file=2

(Published on page B4 of the April 16, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer)

THOSE PASSING along the South Luzon Expressway from Parañaque to Sen. Gil Puyat Ave. in Makati might notice the clearer view of the railroad track.

The same picture is seen going to the North, from Manila to Malolos, Bulacan.

This is because the "informal settlers" or the squatters along these areas, totalling around 80,000, are slowly being relocated.

What is more surprising is that so far, no deaths or major injuries have been reported with the relocation of thousands of families in two major relocation sites-Cabuyao in Laguna and in Bulacan. There were some resistance last year but none big enough to land the front pages similar to relocations in the past.

National Housing Authority general manager Federico Laxa attributes the relatively peaceful relocation to a new scheme adopted by the government-the creation of a Local Inter-Agency Committee, a consultative group that involves different groups and organization involved in the decision-making process for the relocation.

The members of the Liac include the Commission on Human Rights, the Presidential Commission on Urban Poor, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Department of Education, the Philippine National Police, the local government units and of course representatives from the informal settlers.

One of the main tasks of the committee is to decide where the squatters will be brought when their illegal dwellings are demolished.

Laxa explains the relocation program provides two options-the Balik-sa-probinsiya (back to the province) package where the squatters are given P19,000 per family to be used to cover transportation and other expenses and to enable the families to start a small livelihood program.

The other option is a relocation package where families are given lots worth P100,000 and cash of P50,000 to buy the materials and pay for labor to build a house.

The relocation package carries the option to purchase the lot at six percent interest over 30 years. This is paid in a graduated scheme, at only P200 a month in the first five years.

The government also provides livelihood assistance loans and taps non-government organizations to provide values formation to the members of the relocation site. The NHA provides the funding for these expenses.

The NHA also taps developers who purchase the land, divide these into different lots with titles, and construct the roads, and utilities. Laxa admits sometimes the problem is putting sufficient electricity and water supply in the relocation sites.

The affected families are those without title or tenure rights residing within the Philippine National Rail (PNR) tracks right-of-way. This comprised those who are living in the area 5 meters from the outer tracks of the existing railway which is considered the "danger zone."

In a recent interview, Laxa cited and credited the role played by Vice President Noli de Castro in the relatively peaceful relocation of the squatters.

"All policies on the relocation of the North-South Linkage Project (NSRLP) emanate from the VP which he culled from his continuing dialogues with the affected families as well as the local officials of the areas where they are located," he stresses.

The relocation was hastened because of the Northrail Development Project. The new railroad to be built by a Chinese firm will pass through many squatter ridden sites.

Laxa says that even without the railroad projects, it is the mandate of NHA to clear the rail of informal settlers from danger areas including those staying in the esteros and the river banks and provide them with a decent relocation site.

In the northern part of Manila, NHA relocated roughly 15,000 families away from the old PNR tracks in Caloocan, Valenzuela and Bulacan. Funding of the relocation comes from NHA

The northern Manila-Caloocan to Malolos, Bulacan relocation covers 32 km.

On the other hand, the NSLRP is being planned to improve and upgrade the mass transport system for passenger and freight trains to and from Manila and Southern Luzon.

The Linkage Project will provide an efficient means of transportation that is expected to spur growth in the countryside. The project will restore, rehabilitate and modernize the existing lines of PNR to render an effective and efficient system of transporting people and cargo.

The NSRLP covers Caloocan, Metro Manila to Calamba, Laguna with an approximate distance of about 65.90 km. The project will be undertaken in two phases: Phase 1 is the Southrail Commuter Project, covers Caloocan City to Alabang, Muntinglupa with a distance of 40 km., and Phase 2 covers Alabang, Muntinglupa to Calamba, Laguna stretches a distance of 26 km.

Laxa says that it is estimated that over 31,000 families will be displaced by project activities over 40 km. (from Caloocan to Alabang) in Phase 1. Another 11,000 will likely be affected in Phase 2 of the project. Phase 2 shall involve 25.90 km. stretching from Alabang, Muntinlupa to Calamba, Laguna. Margie Quimpo-Espino

Wala na nga yung squatters sa SLEX yung across Magallanes just before the flyover to EDSA Mantrade

TO CONTROL BUS LOADING
MMDA traffic enforcers to use pink flags

First posted 05:40pm (Mla time) April 16, 2006
By Tarra V. Quismundo
Inquirer


INSTEAD of a white flag, traffic enforcers of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will soon be waving a pink flag at buses that linger too long at loading points.

Far from giving up on its bid to instill discipline in bus drivers and restore order on routes being plied by buses in the metropolis, the MMDA will launch its "Pink Cloth" campaign anytime this month.

MMDA Traffic Operations Center Executive Director Angelito Vergel de Dios said that the MMDA came up with the new scheme after it saw how ineffective its traffic enforcers were in preventing bus drivers from blocking traffic flow by hogging loading points to wait for passengers.

A brainchild of MMDA chair Bayani Fernando, the "Pink Cloth" campaign will complement the agency's Organized Bus Route (OBR) scheme, a program that limits the number of buses out on the road based on commuter volume at a given time.

Under the new scheme, which will take effect on all roads plied by buses, traffic enforcers will carry a pink flag.

Once a bus driver exceeds the time allotment given for him to stay at the loading point, the traffic enforcer will raise the pink cloth in front of the bus door to prevent more passengers from entering.

http://news.inq7.net/breaking/index.php?index=2&story_id=72715

I dont think anyone can give you a before and after comparo...but an "after" shot would do!:)


With the Moderators permission, I'll be posting some pictures of Metro Gwapo initiatives in Marikina City. I used a 1.3 Megapixel Cam Phone.

http://www.geocities.com/kuya_chito/a04142006_003.jpg

http://www.geocities.com/kuya_chito/a04142006_004.jpg

http://www.geocities.com/kuya_chito/a04142006_005.jpg

Renovation works include painting (well pastel colors are predominant), replacement of wooden and concrete walls, roofs and gates. The city government also enforced a 1 meter sidewalk from the gutter to the property line of the houses. Everything (except power poles) within that 1 meter sidewalk was removed.

Notice the White Gate in the center of the first picture (the structure with yellow walls) is actually brand new, the city government replaced the gate in exchange for moving the gates' foundation. (Originally, the foundation of that gate is around 30cm from the gutter)

^^ Sorry but I can't see the pic.

Wow, this MMDA is really doing a lot. I believe they even painted the houses, right?

Picture 1 (http://www.geocities.com/kuya_chito/a04142006_003.jpg)

Picture 2 (http://www.geocities.com/kuya_chito/a04142006_004.jpg)

Picture 3 (http://www.geocities.com/kuya_chito/a04142006_005.jpg)

^^ Thanks. Wow, Marikina is really beautiful.... parang walang tatalo sa Marikina sa kalinisan sa Maynila.

Wow, this MMDA is really doing a lot. I believe they even painted the houses, right?

Yup! They do paint the houses, most of them are color pink!

bayani's really great. i remember all the other mmda heads didn't do shit like abalos and damn binay. At least in Marikina they have sidewalks. In makati hell no.
it's still a long way to go but at least bayani's made progress, just the traffic alone , at least you can reach most your destination in 30 minutes. Before you'd always allot at least 2 hours. The major thoroughfares are being cleaned of litter but the inside roads , that they need to work harder on enforcing or inculcating cleanliness to hardheaded pinoys. Manila looks so much better when it's clean. I hate the sight of a stinking wet puddle on the street filled with trash.

I think much better if they paint also the poles, if possible with dark blue with a 4" or 6" wide strip white on top up to 7' height symetrically. Secondly, trees is the only missing in action.

I think that MMDA has always done a great job at managing the Metro Manila, dspite the many criticisms he receives from some filthy hypocrites...

meron akong nakitang concrete sa comm.ave color light blue & purple.. sobrang odd.. pangit sa mata talaga... kakaiba kasi yun sa lahat e..

wow! marikina looks way way better than any other cities in our country.well, is there way to fix to electric wires? its sooo messy. eyesore. very thirdworld. could they afford to bury it underneath the ground?

BAYANI FOR PRESIDENT!!!

Yup! They do paint the houses, most of them are color pink!

as much as i love MMDA... i'm just very turned off by pink... i don't know why... i love pink but i don't like to see it on every corner of the roads... can BF pick a more "city" friendly color than pink? maybe earth colors are much better... that way the city would look more mediteranean rather than metro gay...

In fact, with respect to Bayani, pink is not bad, but in terms of maintenance, it easily become dirty due to pollution cause by smoke belching and dust and our country in humid climate, it's very easy to get dirty. If we choose earth tone colours is okey also but it's still we in a humid place, like summer it looks too warm if your put like orange or wallnut or yellow orange. I prefer to be neutralize, it must be dark blue or blue grey or blue green and mix with orange or pastel green.

wow! marikina looks way way better than any other cities in our country.well, is there way to fix to electric wires? its sooo messy. eyesore. very thirdworld. could they afford to bury it underneath the ground?


Are you writing from Chile! Tough to do this right now, It can be done but the lines are owned by Meralco and they'll demand pipes to lay out the cable which could literally run into billions. Remember even Japan has wires on posts in many places. Maybe when we have much ohter less priorities in terms of infrastructures.

I don't like Pink but will live with it but do agree that it gets dirty quickly. The pink fences along EDSA they put up last year are quite yucky now, so much for quapo.

hehe im not from chile, jus fascinated with the place valparaiso.

about the pink issue,hmmmm....all i can say is.... its sooo GAY! gay-er than san francisco! and i love it. though i still prefer green since its the international standards.
:banana:

^^ah a nice place indeed valparaiso

indeed quite brokenback but my color paradigms aside, I think shades of brown may work since dirt and pollution may wear well on the color (or at least its not as noticeable)

i kind of like pink it gives the dull grey metro a little color.

I agree, Bayani has done wonders for Marikina and the MMDA. I live in Filinvest East opposite of which is already Marikina. I haven't been to Marikina until recently and was surprised seeing its clean streets and the ubiquitous pink fences, street posts and urinals. I also observed that Marikina peeps are very disciplined and friendly.

I am reminded of Subic (in terms of cleanliness and traffic organization). I believe that there is hope in MM with Bayani at the helm of MMDA.


bayani's really great. i remember all the other mmda heads didn't do shit like abalos and damn binay. At least in Marikina they have sidewalks. In makati hell no.
it's still a long way to go but at least bayani's made progress, just the traffic alone , at least you can reach most your destination in 30 minutes. Before you'd always allot at least 2 hours. The major thoroughfares are being cleaned of litter but the inside roads , that they need to work harder on enforcing or inculcating cleanliness to hardheaded pinoys. Manila looks so much better when it's clean. I hate the sight of a stinking wet puddle on the street filled with trash.

Pink is all right. If it gets dirty because of pollution, then it may also serve as gauge for pollution levels in MM. The cleaner it gets, the better. It will make us aware of our cities' pollution level. That way, everybody gets to realize how polluted our cities have become. Public awareness will eventually lead us to actions and control measures against pollution.

In fact, with respect to Bayani, pink is not bad, but in terms of maintenance, it easily become dirty due to pollution cause by smoke belching and dust and our country in humid climate, it's very easy to get dirty. If we choose earth tone colours is okey also but it's still we in a humid place, like summer it looks too warm if your put like orange or wallnut or yellow orange. I prefer to be neutralize, it must be dark blue or blue grey or blue green and mix with orange or pastel green.

agree ako sayo diyan daddyJ :okay:

meron akong nakitang concrete sa comm.ave color light blue & purple.. sobrang odd.. pangit sa mata talaga... kakaiba kasi yun sa lahat e..

better than the dull unpainted concrete. The orange is very nice though, without being too flashy. Would be a new sight when driving, so can be distracting. Nevertheless we have too much unpainted concrete.

better than the dull unpainted concrete. The orange is very nice though, without being too flashy. Would be a new sight when driving, so can be distracting. Nevertheless we have too much unpainted concrete.

next to metro guwapo siguro is a more intesified air cleaning sa manila.. kase like in the case of MRT... they repainted the stations then after 1 month it goes back to darkness...

or they should do something with the grafittis... minsan kaka-paint lang ng center island sa Q-ave, then after a rally puro "patalsikin si X" (X = Whoever the President may be... These people can't be pleased)

Let us be responsible citizens by reporting smoke belchers through the Bantay Usok, just text "USOK(space)Plate Number" of the vehicle to 2366.

EDSA tunnels undergo facelift
The Philippine Star 05/08/2006
EDSA tunnels undergo facelift (http://philstar.com/philstar/NEWS200605086311.htm)

Tunnels and vehicle underpasses located along the 24-kilometer Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) are now undergoing a facelift.

Major cleaning, repair, and repainting are underway in preparation for the opening of classes next month.

Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) personnel are expected to finish the job before the school opening.

Cleaning and repair works are ongoing at the Ayala tunnel under the Metro Rail Transit’s (MRT) Ayala Terminal in Makati City.

MMDA Sidewalk Clearing Operations Group (SCOG) chief Bobby Esquivel said EDSA’s vehicle underpasses definitely need cleaning up.

"After cleaning and fixing whatever needs to be fixed, we will also paint the walls white para mas maganda at mas tumagal (so that it will look better and it will last)," he said.

Esquivel said renovaation in other tunnels like EDSA Shaw, Aurora, P. Tuazon will follow after work at the Ayala underpass is finished.

Esquivel said busted lights are also being replaced to brighten up the passageways at night.

He noted that the MMDA has sent a letter to the general manager of the MRT management regarding the water drip from its terminals.

"There’s probably something wrong with the construction so we wrote them a letter so that they can fix it," he said.

Esquivel said cleaning up EDSA’s tunnels form part of MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando’s move to beautify and improve Metro Manila.

Since it is summer, it is also the best time to do some cleaning and repair in preparation for the rainy season.

"Come June, we will have cleaner and safer vehicle passageways," Esquivel said.

He asked motorists to bear with the temporary inconvenience the cleaning and repair operations might cause.

thanks davidweb for the info, salamat naman na aayusin na nila yung mga undergrounds along EDSA, they really need a facelift... hahaha, dapat hindi lang EDSA ang ayusin.

I think this is a good alternative to cost saving options at the moment but in the long run, I feel it's not practical, since this are subject for dirt exposure, as I have said before, maintainance is the critical issues, if they really have budget, much better if they use "Alucobond wall cladding and can provide design on wall treatment. It means aluminum cladding and easy for maintenance. They can put reflective sticker as part of the designs of the wall cladding.

Metro-wide makeover program targets Parañaque

First posted 05:23pm (Mla time) May 21, 2006
By Tarra Quismundo
Inquirer

THE METROPOLITAN Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has begun clearing sidewalks and the road right-of-way along one of Parañaque City's busiest roads, as part of a metro-wide makeover program the agency launched last year.
The agency has begun clearing operations along Dr. A. Santos Avenue (formerly Sucat Road), among the thoroughfares up for improvement under the MMDA's 11-point rehabilitation program, "Metro Gwapo" (Metro Handsome).

"Let me remind the residents and establishment owners there to remove all their obstruction, because during our clearing operations we would take away all structures that we see encroaching the sidewalk," said MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando on Sunday during the agency's weekly public service program "MMDA sa GMA," aired over GMA Network dzBB radio.

MMDA Traffic Engineering Center chief engineer Ramon Ona said clearing operations on the roadway began this month, as part of the implementation of the five-year Metro Gwapo program.

rehabilitation effort, projects addressing problems in traffic management and decongestion, roadways clearing, resettlement, flood control and disaster management have been set so as to have a "good-looking metro" by 2010.


http://news.inq7.net/breaking/index.php?index=2&story_id=76520

i know its bec of the mayor, but its really frustrating why manila is not getting the makeover i wish MMDA would do to the city.

http://www.mb.com.ph/MTNN2006052364803.html

MMDA pushes sidewalk clearing amid protests

By CHITO A. CHAVEZ

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Bayani Fernando vowed yesterday to continue with the sidewalk clearing operations until Metro Manila is transformed into a safer and more orderly community.

As part of the “Metro Gwapo” beautification program, the MMDA has started removing illegal structures along Sucat Road, Imelda Avenue and the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) all the way to Zapote-Alabang Road in Las Piñas.

Earlier, Fernando rejected charges of abuse of authority and human rights violation hurled by critics as he maintained that illegal structures on government-owned lots have to go.

He said the MMDA had served the final notices to vacate on the affected parties in the agency’s sidewalk clearing operations.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) recently sought the assistance of the MMDA in removing illegal dwellers along Radial Road 10, the road that links Manila to Navotas (See story on Page 3).

Fernando said the squatter families along the road refused to voluntarily vacate their houses after being given their eviction notices in 1998.

To avoid any legal liability, Percival Chavez, chairman of the Urban Poor Council (UPC), gave the green light for the DPWH and the MMDA to remove and dismantle the illegal structures along the road.

A newly recruited MMDA Sidewalk Clearing Operations Group (SCOG) member was hurt when the resisting illegal dwellers hurled rocks at the demolition team.

Hundreds of squatters cried harassment and human rights violation, but Fernando said the MMDA has the right to push through with the operation.

Sana sundin na ng mga mayors at tao ang mga plano ni bf para tuloy tuloyan na ang pagpapsganda ng metro. pag gumanda metro manila mas gaganda ang buhay ng mga mamayan.

MMDA to clear sidewalks

First posted 04:33pm (Mla time) May 28, 2006
By Tarra V. Quismundo
Inquirer


THE METROPOLITAN Manila Development Authority will start clearing sidewalks leading to schools beginning Monday to help students get to their classes quickly and safely.

MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando said Sunday that the agency's Sidewalk Clearing Operations Group would be conducting week-long simultaneous operations throughout Metro Manila in preparation for the opening of classes next month.

Some areas being targeted for clearing operations are Aurora Boulevard in Quezon City and the University Belt in Manila.

"We will confiscate goods and any obstruction we find on the sidewalk. Anything on the sidewalk is considered common garbage," said Fernando.


http://news.inq7.net/breaking/index.php?index=2&story_id=77293

http://www.mb.com.ph/MTNN2006052364803.html

MMDA pushes sidewalk clearing amid protests

By CHITO A. CHAVEZ

Hundreds of squatters cried harassment and human rights violation, but Fernando said the MMDA has the right to push through with the operation.

Human rights??? WTF? what about our rights?... they want everything for free, housing, water, electricity... look at transmission loss we pay on our electric bills they are the one who benefit from it ... :bash:

Bayani Fernando for PRESIDENT!

I agree, Bayani Fernando for President/Prime Minister! :D Hahaha... You can't say whether at 2010, its still presidential or already a parliamentary system.

I am confident that if BF can secure this highest post, he can perform it very well, sometimes those in the field of science and technology can give better pronouncement to economic development rather that those in political profession. Just an example for Mahathir of Malaysia, he is a doctor of medicine if I am not mistaken, but his understanding of science, give an optimal solution to economic development of his country. Like BF, since he is a engineer and exposed to construction, this technical knowledge can implement to infrastructure development which is the key to economic growth of one's nation. The attitude I like with him is that, if he want, it must be implemented, Marikina is an example, if they can do, the rest of the country can do also. It's a matter of personal discipline, kailangan lang sumunod tayo, alam naman natin kung yung ipinapasunod sa atin ay tama o mali. Kaya lang some Filipino attitudes are stubborn enough to follow instructions because of self-interest and not concerns to country's welfare.

yeah, i also like bayani to become president, or whatever. but malabo ata yun esp that in order to win, he needs the votes of those illegal settlers......................

i wish may sidewalks ang mga lansangan ng manila!!!

I am confident that if BF can secure this highest post, he can perform it very well, sometimes those in the field of science and technology can give better pronouncement to economic development rather that those in political profession. Just an example for Mahathir of Malaysia, he is a doctor of medicine if I am not mistaken, but his understanding of science, give an optimal solution to economic development of his country. Like BF, since he is a engineer and exposed to construction, this technical knowledge can implement to infrastructure development which is the key to economic growth of one's nation. The attitude I like with him is that, if he want, it must be implemented, Marikina is an example, if they can do, the rest of the country can do also. It's a matter of personal discipline, kailangan lang sumunod tayo, alam naman natin kung yung ipinapasunod sa atin ay tama o mali. Kaya lang some Filipino attitudes are stubborn enough to follow instructions because of self-interest and not concerns to country's welfare.


oo nga kase hindi lawyer karamihan ng lawyers corrupt

I'LL SUPPORT BAYANI!!! BAYANI FOR PRESIDENT!!!

Go hutu! Hutu pride! Hutu pride!

"Go hutu! Hutu pride! Hutu pride!"

lotrfan, I do not understand you meant with those phrase or are you just out of whack?

"Go hutu! Hutu pride! Hutu pride!"

lotrfan, I do not understand you meant with those phrase or are you just out of whack?

me neither :D

Go hutu! Hutu pride! Hutu pride!

You should be in Rwanda thread not here.

I agree, Bayani Fernando for President/Prime Minister! :D Hahaha... You can't say whether at 2010, its still presidential or already a parliamentary system.

Agree...BF for President.

If there is federalization of the Philippines, wherein there is a State of Manila, I'll vote Bayani as state governor.... to see what he can really do to Manila with FULL local excutive powers

If there is federalization of the Philippines, wherein there is a State of Manila, I'll vote Bayani as state governor.... to see what he can really do to Manila with FULL local excutive powers

oh yes, if the federal republic will push through, it's better that BF be the governor of metro manila.

bf for president?

Pwede rin.

It would be better if it would be possible to just morph Lito Atienza, Bayani Fernando and maybe a designer into one person. Bayani is great already but for goodness sake, HE LACKS CREATIVITY! Lito naman is good sa redeveloping side and a designer for the well, CREATIVE side. Creative people can easily turn a drab piece of shit into a gorgeous entity with very little effort and resources because that is what they're good at. Hideous are the overpasses of MMDA and so as their "ehem" MMDA art paintwork of various shapes and sies along the Metro's bare walls and posts. The color fuschia and blue is just excruciating!

How about Imeldific for Governor of Metromanila?

How about Imeldific for Governor of Metromanila?

ngarag na po sya. hanap naman tayo ng sariwa.

Nino Mulach?



j/k