MMDA spares improvised elevator for stroke patient

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority has allowed an improvised elevator taking up part of a sidewalk in Quezon City to remain in operation for the sake of the stroke patient it was built for.

"'Yung PWD [person with disability] pinagbigyan natin," said MMDA Task Force Special Operations commander Bong Nebrija during road-clearing operations featured in a 24 Oras report by Mark Salazar.

"Sabi ko nga sa kanila kami na bahala maglagay ng rampa diyan at i-designate na PWD ramp 'yan para tulungan 'yung kababayan natin na gumagamit ng sidewalk bilang rampa saka 'yung elevator paakyat ng bahay."

Mark Anthony Dela Cruz said the homemade rig on Ilang-Ilang Street was for his father.

"Sa erpat ko po sir. Stroke patient po kasi saka nagda-dialysis na. Hindi na po kasi kasya sa may hagdanan kaya nag-ano na lang kami na dito na lang gumawa. Para maibaba man lang namin saka maitaas," he said.

The MMDA, however, cracked down on a company that was using part of a street as a parking area, complete with bollards and designated parking spaces. Authorities took down the bollards and towed some of the vehicles.

"Kasi Mabuhay Lane po ito, we cannot allow," Nebrija said.

"Sana mayroon tayong papel, hindi lang 'yung salita," an official of the company said.

Nebrija replied, however, that he had already coordinated with barangay officials before the road-clearing operation.

"Connecting ito ng E. Rodriguez up to Cubao so ito ay magagandang alternatibong daan. Sana nga po ay panatilihin maayos ng ating kababayan at 'wag parking-an," he added.

The MMDA also inspected the area in front of La Salle Greenhills in Ortigas.

One motorist said vehicles entering the school were not the main cause of traffic in the area: "Kunyari maluwag na dito, 3, 4 pm... doon nagiimbudo, hindi naman La Salle lang eh."

The MMDA admitted that they lack personnel to inspect areas experiencing heavy traffic around the metro. — Anna Felicia Bajo/BM, GMA News