Manila Rep. Amado Bagatsing has branded as “mother of all scams and corruption” the privatization of Lacson Underpass in Quiapo and promised to bring it back to the public if elected mayor in the May elections.
The congressman revealed that public funds were used to construct and renovate the underpass but its safety was compromised after it was transformed into a shopping center.
“Sidewalks and underpasses are all constructed beyond the commerce of man. In other words, these are all for public use. Public funds were spent for the use and benefit of the public, unfortunately, it was sold by Mayor Joseph Estrada,” Bagatsing said.
“Residents who used to walk through this underpass have been affected. There are a lot of people that need to go home early and safely. But now they are forced to play “Patintero” with vehicles because the underpass is closed by night,” he added.
The management of the mall closes underpass at 9 p.m. and opens only at 9 a.m.
Apart from Lacson Underpass, the city government also planned to privatize 17 public markets in Manila, according to Bagatsing, who asked his colleagues to conduct a congressional hearing on the complaints of affected vendors.
More than 5,000 affected vendors sought the assistance of Bagatsing to prevent the city government pursue its plan to privatize the public markets based on its joint venture agreement with under the recently approved Ordinance 8346.
Bagatsing said the agreement is a solid evidence that the city government violated the Cooperative Code of the Philippines which gives full protection and rights to public market vendors.
He added members of the city council passed the ordinance without consulting the market vendors.
Among the public markets involved are Quinta, San Andres, Sta. Ana, Trabajo, New Antipolo and Pritil.
“Each market cooperative has its own preferential rights under the Code. Why was this not observed then by Mayor Estrada and the city council? The management of the markets should not have been handed over to just anybody,” said Bagatsing.
Under the Bill of Rights, the lawmaker said, Filipinos have the right to be notified, be heard, and be part of the due process.
“In the case of the vendors, this was clearly not observed. Justice was not properly served, and the rights of our fellow Manileños have been altogether affronted, since talks with the city government of Manila ensued after the joint venture agreement has been approved and signed,” he said.
Last year, stall owners belong to Manila Federation of Public Market Vendors Association Inc. filed with the Office of the Ombudsman a graft case against Estrada and other city officials in connection with the demolition of Quinta market in Quiapo, which they said illegal.
In the complaint, the vendors accused city officials of violating Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, RA 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act and RA 6957 or the act authorizing the financing, construction, operation and maintenance of infrastructure projects by the private sector and other purposes.