Proving that it is serious in its campaign to clear Manila’s sidewalks, the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) demolished on Wednesday a barangay (village) hall that has invaded the sidewalk as well as the road.
In the Philippines, villages are governed by their own elected officials, the highest of whom is called the barangay captain. The barangay hall serves as his office.
Barangay Hall ng Brgy 235 sa Maynila na nasa sidewalk, pinadedemolish na ng MMDA; pero mga opisyal ng barangay, nakiusap na bigyan sila ng isang linggo para makapaglipat ng gamit | via @jervismanahan pic.twitter.com/s0ld6o6MrI
— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) August 8, 2018
According to the Manila Bulletin, the MMDA had already told the village officials to self-demolish the structure but it remained standing. Scheduling conflicts prevented the MMDA from tearing the structure down, until this week when their team arrived to remove it themselves.
The hall, located on Villaruel Street cor. Abad Santos Ave., had obstructed the sidewalk and street for the past 40 years, according to GMA News.
Explained Bong Nebrija, the commander of MMDA Task Force Special Operations: “They [officials] were given two additional weeks [to pack up and leave]. They knew they were going to be demolished. It was extended for two more weeks. Yet when we arrived, their things were still there.”
The demolition was witnessed by the MMDA chairman himself, Danilo Lim, who encouraged barangay officials to cooperate or else charges will be filed against them.
The MMDA has been on a campaign to clear the metro’s sidewalks of various obstructions.
Manila is not a walkable city. Its sidewalks are usually narrow, made even more so by the existence of street stalls. Some houses and buildings were also constructed in such a way that they are almost encroaching on the sidewalks.
