Bayani Fernando quits MMDA

November 25, 2009

Image from the MMDA website

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Bayani Fernando, the man behind heavily criticized U-turn slots, pink fences and concrete barriers-among other "solutions" to traffic jams, is leaving his post to pursue his plan to run for president in 2010.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has appointed former Quezon City judge Oscar Inocentes to take over Fernando's duties by the end of the month, the Philippine Star said.

Inocentes' experience in government service is primarily focused in the judiciary. He started off as assistant city fiscal before becoming a judge. He currently sits as political coalition affairs undersecretary for Metro Manila.

So it's out with the engineer and in with the judge. Is this good news or bad news? Feel free to share your thoughts using our comment box below.

• Related Stories

• MMDA to re-launch anti-smoke belching program

• The good, the bad and the ugly

• DPWH to repair parts of EDSA this weekend

• MMDA to throw bribers in jail

• 'Deadlier' road signs await jaywalkers

• Popular Stories

• Mitsubishi Montero Sport vs Toyota Fortuner

• Isuzu launches 2010 Crosswind variants

• Hyundai to launch Tucson ix in Manila

• Suzuki Celerio enters RP market

• Motorists' most trusted brands

COMMENTS

• ninoy77 says not fine (November 25, 2009 11:54:11 am)
• evo5 says To run for president? Nakupow!!! Punta na kong dubai. (November 25, 2009 11:56:05 am)
• hdc says My goodness!!! choose wisely naman!!! judge + MMDA = !@##$%$^%& (November 25, 2009 05:04:25 pm)
• TEAM CHEVROLET says Traffic nga sa manila di nga nya masulusyunan ehh anu pa kung judge na siya GOOD LUCK! (November 25, 2009 05:41:09 pm)
• iancmv says Eh mga public drivers di mapatino, Pilipinas pa!?! Wag na oi! (November 25, 2009 06:40:29 pm)
• evo5 says @team chevrolet: hindi magiging judge si bayani. Tatakbo sya as president. Yung papalit sa kanya sa mmda ang judge. (November 25, 2009 08:18:19 pm)
• vip001 says Thank you Bayani Fernando for resigning. Please bare in your mind not to run again for ANY POSITION that would involve you to this country. Your pink fences, signage in edsa that is not seen properly are wayyy too good, oh and your "cool" U-Turn slot. salamat! (November 25, 2009 10:17:52 pm)
• Toby Dy-Liacco says Hi, this is Toby Dy-Liacco from Chevrolet Philippines - The Covenant Car Company, Inc. I'm sorry, but I would just like to ask, may I know who is using the name "Team Chevrolet" and/or "TEAM CHEVROLET?" Thank you. (November 26, 2009 01:16:17 am)
• Leopaul says Easy for you to say! (November 26, 2009 04:32:42 am)
• KeithDB says To be fair, Bayani did very well when he was mayor of Marikina. Also, I think he did better as mmda chairman compared to Binay. His drive against sidewalk vendors and squatters was better compared to Binay who was too afraid to alienate these people. (November 26, 2009 08:02:07 am)
• Toby Dy-Liacco says To Sir Vernon and the rest of the Top Gear Philippines staff: Can you help us out on this one, please? I'm afraid the person (or people) behind the pseudonym "TEAM CHEVROLET" is not authorized to use the name of the company. I'm sorry, we just don't want the name "Chevrolet" to be used if it's not an official matter (I noticed he/she/they even gave an estimated SRP of the Camaro on your Feedbox, when in reality, we don't have an SRP of it yet), especially if it is just used for personal comments such as the one on this news article. Sir Vernon, I also texted you regarding this matter. Thank you very much! (November 26, 2009 09:03:37 am)
• Toby Dy-Liacco says I'm sorry, I made a mistake on how I stated things a while ago. Anyone can use the name "Chevrolet," there's no problem about that. However, we just have a slight problem with the name "TEAM CHEVROLET" because it might seem like it's from certain representatives of the company, with the statements made from that pseudonym looking like they're coming from the company itself. For the person using "TEAM CHEVROLET," thank you very much for your support, we really appreciate it. Maybe you can use another pseudonym like "Chevrolet Lover," or "Chevrolet Fan" instead. ;) Again, I'm really sorry about that. Thank you very much! (November 26, 2009 10:44:31 am)
• daredevil says I look up to Bayani for all his efforts to continuously resolve "horrendous" traffic in the Metro. Most of the time, his projects are good, but some drivers can be very unruly, especially PUV drivers. On Bayani running as President, think I ain't very supportive about this idea, it's very ambitious, might as well settle for senatorial candidacy for now. On the judge replacing Bayani as MMDA Chair, I hope he'd strive to maintain/continue Bayani's projects, or else, Manila's just gonna be one hell of a big parking lot. (November 26, 2009 11:46:32 am)
• nolet says i actually think bayani did a good job overall, with the exception of some quirks, like the color pink. but the concrete barriers, u-turn slots, and urinals all just need some getting used to, but they get the job done (although they keep changing the slots on some streets, such as C5 near eastwood and katipunan where i traverse often, which causes disarray again each time they change). but i think he's better off in a position such as MMDA chair than as president (or any elected position for that matter, save for maybe governor or mayor). (November 26, 2009 02:18:18 pm)
• Jonas Valera Root says Yehey Bayani is out!!! Hey Judge, will you please remove the all the u-turn slots? Specially the gigantic u-turn slots along commonwealth? Somebody was thinking right in the mmda when commonwealth ave. was widened, but when they built those st*p*d u-turn slots it actually ate up half of the 8 lanes. It doesn't make sense to put up a u-turn slot that would eat up 4-5 lanes. Bayani for President? He wont get a vote from a majority of drivers, they must be a retard like bayani (November 27, 2009 12:02:32 am)
• voksy says I doubt if a lawyer leads or heads of any government agency because it is tested over & over again that they mess up most of the time! What we need an action man with political will at all cost! (November 27, 2009 05:35:25 am)
• dumaguete resident says well,i'm glad i'm not in manila........................ (November 27, 2009 02:05:55 pm)
• maranello_5775 says I hope he will do a lot better than pesky BF! (November 28, 2009 08:36:52 pm)
• leo says Bayani is not running for president. (November 28, 2009 11:44:50 pm)
• exo11 says I'm very glad Mr. Fernando is resigning. Good riddance and don't come back. (November 29, 2009 04:28:46 am)