Another Potential Road Scam: NLEX to C-5 Extension Project

Last May 9, Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo specifically gave Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Bayani Fernando the "green light" to proceed with the construction of the Northern Luzon Expressway (NLEX) to C-5 extension project. The 2.1 billion project is expected to be completed in April 2010, a month before the elections. Bayani got the project after impressing Mrs. Arroyo of the newly completed C-5 elevated U-turn slot, which, says Bayani, saved government 1 billion pesos due to traffic decongestion and minimal government supervision.

What Mrs. Arroyo forgot was Mr. Fernando is not allowed to undertake such a project since it is not within the purview of Republic Act 7924, or the "Act Creating the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, defining its powers and functions, providing funding therefor and for other purposes" to give the MMDA only the power to "formulate, coordinate and monitor" policies, standards, programmes and projects relating to transport and traffic management. MMDA does not have the power to undertake or implement road projects. It is under the purview of the DPWH and it also needs laws from local governments under the MMDA.

Is this why Mr. Fernando already abandoned thoughts of running for the presidency since Arroyo already gave him a gravy project? Is this 2.1 billion peso project the one in exchange for Fernando's "silence" and the one given for him to dis-engage from the presidential nominations?

We need to be very vigilant because Mrs. Arroyo is giving her most trusted lieutenants gifts left and right.