By Ellson QuismorioÂ
Bayan Muna Party-List Rep. Carlos Zarate bared Tuesday he is set to intervene on the Supreme Court (SC) case challenging the Metro Manila Development Authority's (MMDA) plan to ban provincial buses along EDSA.
Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate (Bayan Muna Party list Facebook page / MANILA BULLETIN)
"Mas magandang 'wag nang ipatupad ng MMDA ang plano nila dahil lalo lang mahihirapan ang mamamayan lalo na ang Valenzuela (It would be better for MMDA to shelve their plan since it will only burden the people, especially in Valenzuela)," Zarate said.
Joining Zarate in his intervention is Bayan Muna Chairman Neri Colmenares.
The MMDA is pushing for the ban of provincial buses along the 24-kilometer stretch of EDSA as an anti-traffic measure.
But according to Zarate, the real solution is to force bus operators to follow traffic rules and traffic protocols.
"Kaya lang dahil hindi nila mahinto ang kotong, ang pasahero ang pahihirapan (because they can't stop extortion, the commuters are the ones suffering)," the Makabayan lawmaker said in a clear dig at the MMDA.
"Sa halip na makatulong sa mga pasahero at gumaan ang buhay nila, ay lalo pa sila nahihirapan (They add to the suffering of passengers instead of helping them)," added the Davao-based solon.
He insisted that the best thing MMDA can do is to properly implement traffic rules and arrest law enforcers who either extort from motorists or do not do their jobs.
"Pero dahil mukhang desidido sila dito at walang pakialam sa kapakanan ng mga pasahero ay mapipilitan din kaming dalhin ito sa Korte Suprema at ipatigil ang planong ito (But since they appear to be bent on the bus ban and don't care about commuter welfare, we'll just take this matter to the SC and stop it)," Zarate said.
Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate (Bayan Muna Party list Facebook page / MANILA BULLETIN)
"Mas magandang 'wag nang ipatupad ng MMDA ang plano nila dahil lalo lang mahihirapan ang mamamayan lalo na ang Valenzuela (It would be better for MMDA to shelve their plan since it will only burden the people, especially in Valenzuela)," Zarate said.
Joining Zarate in his intervention is Bayan Muna Chairman Neri Colmenares.
The MMDA is pushing for the ban of provincial buses along the 24-kilometer stretch of EDSA as an anti-traffic measure.
But according to Zarate, the real solution is to force bus operators to follow traffic rules and traffic protocols.
"Kaya lang dahil hindi nila mahinto ang kotong, ang pasahero ang pahihirapan (because they can't stop extortion, the commuters are the ones suffering)," the Makabayan lawmaker said in a clear dig at the MMDA.
"Sa halip na makatulong sa mga pasahero at gumaan ang buhay nila, ay lalo pa sila nahihirapan (They add to the suffering of passengers instead of helping them)," added the Davao-based solon.
He insisted that the best thing MMDA can do is to properly implement traffic rules and arrest law enforcers who either extort from motorists or do not do their jobs.
"Pero dahil mukhang desidido sila dito at walang pakialam sa kapakanan ng mga pasahero ay mapipilitan din kaming dalhin ito sa Korte Suprema at ipatigil ang planong ito (But since they appear to be bent on the bus ban and don't care about commuter welfare, we'll just take this matter to the SC and stop it)," Zarate said.