Binay gives MMDA a week to remove BF posters in Makati

MAKATI mayor Jejomar Binay on Thursday gave the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority one week to remove the tarpaulin posters of agency chairman Bayani Fernando in the city or he will personally do it himself.

"The MMDA should remove these posters if only to show that they are indeed serious in their campaign against the proliferation of illegal posters, billboards and ads in Metro Manila," Binay said adding that a week is more than enough time to accomplish the job.

He said the posters are evidence of Fernando's hypocrisy considering that the MMDA has taken the forefront in the campaign to remove illegal posters. Many consider the posters Fernando's way of promoting name and image recall way ahead of the 2010 presidential elections.

The posters show an unsmiling, barong-clad Fernando with arms crossed over his chest and the message "Kaayusan: Metro Guwapo, Tao Ganado, Produktibo, Kahi-rapan Naiibsan." They can be found attached to MRT and MMDA information posts along Edsa and other thoroughfares.

Binay said Fernando should explain to the Metro Manila Council (MMC), the policy-making body of the MMDA, the propriety of the posters, adding that the agency cannot deny that the amount spent for their printing came from the government. "Malinaw na pondo ng pamahalaan ang ginamit ni Fernando dahil nakalagay sa ilalim ng naturang poster na pag-aari ito ng gobyerno subalit hahayaan muna natin na ang Kongreso ang mag-imbestiga dito," Binay said.

MMDA general manager Robert Nacianceno earlier said they are prepared for any investigation, that they have nothing to hide and the posters are not part of Fernando's political strategy.

"Handa kaming humarap sa anumang uri ng imbestigasyon kaugnay sa pondong pinanggalingan nito dahil malinaw naman na bahagi ito ng aming programang Metro Gwapo," Nacianceno said.

Metro Gwapo is a multi-billion peso beautification and urban renewal program of the agency that seeks to transform Metro Manila into a well-developed and designed metropolis by 2010.