BF’s sidewalk clearing operations depicts brutality and barbarism sparing no one from poor old folks, children, men, women and even to pregnant women. These operations has resulted to cases of physical assault from MMDA operatives ranging from harassment to extreme use of force that resulted to serious physical injuries and even the death of three vendors. There is even a case of a vendor having his hand chopped while resisting an MMDA operative armed with a Samurai.

People might say that this is a bias account against BF.

Now let’s see some facts how this bright theory of BF really worked. According to Mr. Neil R. Lina, the City Market Administrator of Quezon City, in his memorandum to Mayor Feliciano Belmonte dated September 10, 2003: “The number of registered vendors reduced only in books but not in the streets.” “Problems and complaints have arisen against the alleged abuse of authority by MMDA operatives. Cases after cases have been filed against these people, Bayani Fernando included. As a result of their indiscriminate and uncoordinated clearing operations with the city counterparts, the number of registered vendors in the city has been greatly reduced. Many of them refuse to go back to the office to renew their permits, however, some have continued to vend in spite of the risk of being demolished. Our record shows that there are about 10,000 to 12,000 vendors in the city of which 6,000 are registered. After a series of demolition jobs by the MMDA the number of vendors who are renewing their permits considerably dropped, but nevertheless you would see many of them back on the streets again and again.”

Along this fact, Mr. Lina also noted some negative effects on the “indiscriminate, brutal, inhuman and barbaric acts of MMDA personnel”, to qoute:

1. “Many of our vendors who have faithfully paid and complied with our requirements have been victimized involving loss of hundreds of thousands of pesos in capital. Goods and even cash sales were confiscated but not returned;

2. MMDA continues to defy the permits we are issuing. Thus, the vendors’ trust and confidence in our effort to require them to pay our vending taxes and fees is diminished;

3. Because of this, many of registered vendors have stopped renewing their permits from us. Hence, the reduction and slump in revenues. Last year 2002, was our highest collection of P5.021 million. This year’s collection could have been bigger had not for MMDA’s abuses. As of June 2003, we just collected P3.714 million;

This is just in Quezon City, it is most likely that the same effect is felt by other cities in Metro Manila as well.

Oh and by the way, until now BF refuses to accept a Supreme Court ruling denying his agency traffic police powers and continues to send out enforcers to arrest erring motorists.

Brilliant, eh?

mell, you should know by now that your opinion is always welcome here. This is not one of those blogs where people jump on you because you don’t agree with the opinion of the majority.

I value word for word the ideas of the precious few people who do place their comments here, because of the windows they open into their minds and the way they think and feel. I feel priveledged each time I read a comment, and I thank each one who has given me the precious minutes that they have taken to write down their thoughts.

I base my opinion on what I read on various online papers.

Been reading about BF since I was a child since I was from Marikina and had seen him around my neighborhood since he was a neighbor.

Binay, all I know of him is from the online news. His tifts with BF regarding TVRs,etc.

Perhaps, me being in the US is a big handicap to this discussion, and sense my opinion might not be welcome.

I apologize if my initial comment was of offense, I only speak based on what I have read, nothing else.

by no means am I saying the above post is invalid.

corruption and ineptitude in government, no matter how small or grand are just the same.

yun lang po.

justice, life is unfair yes, and we have people in power who take further advantage of that.

mell, I would like to know how well you know the people you mention in your comment, both Bayani Fernando and Jejomar Binay. How do you know them, and for how long have you known about them?

We do have a systemic problem in the government beaurocracy. subject any government branch and I will assure you skeleton will be a plenty, the MMDA included. However, I consider the MMDA the least of the deficient departments.

Not to condone BF’s mistakes. But pound per pound he is the best public servant today.

Also recall where a part of MMDA’s funding comes from, traffic tickets. It now shares this with the MMC thanks to Jejomar Binay and other hypocrits out there.

Who would you rather have? Binay?