Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH (18") CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. _2596

Introduced by: Representative Jose L. Atienza, Jr.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks the creation of the Metropolitan Manila Government, in lieu
of the existing Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

For several decades now, the MMDA has not been as responsive as needed
in addressing the pressing concerns of the residents of Metro Manila, particularly
those of the perennial traffic and peace and order, which take a heavy toll on the
area’s economy and development. The current MMDA Chairman merely
coordinates — when the agency should be concerned with planning, development
and delivery of services.

Under the present setup, the MMDA Chairman is appointed by the
President, while the members of the Metro Manila Council are all elected mayors
of the 16 cities and 1 municipality. With this bill, instead of having an appointed
Chairman, the Metro Manila Government is to be composed of a Governor and
Vice Governor both elected by Metro Manilans themselves, as well as the duly-
elected Mayors. As such, they will be accountable to the people and not just to the
person who appointed them. An elected Governor would also be more sensitive to
what needs to be done, ensuring a better, more effective working relationship with
the Mayors.

Mega-cities like New York and Tokyo — which have Governors elected by
the people — used to have traffic problems like ours but they were able to manage
effectively with a Governor elected by and accountable to the pedple.



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH (18") CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 2596

Introduced by: Representative Jose L. Atienza, Jr.

AN ACT CREATING THE METROPOLITAN MANILA GOVERNM!

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the
Philippines in Congress assembled:

WHEREAS, Metro Manila was created as a public corporation under
Presidential Decree No. 824 and therefore has a legal personality akin to that of the
province, city or municipality;

WHEREAS, it is generally perceived that the present Metropolitan Manila
Development Authority (MMDA) has not been particularly responsive in
addressing the pressing concerns of the people of Metropolitan Manila;

WHEREAS, the reason has been traced in part to the fact that the executive
officers implementing the agency’s policies and programs have not been elected
directly by the people and, therefore, have no direct accountability to the
constituency of Metropolitan Manila;

WHEREAS, while the members of the Metro Manila Council, except the
Chairman, are elected officials, they were not so elected to perform primarily the
functions, duties and responsibilities of the MMDA;

WHEREAS, to make the agency more attuned to the needs of the people of
Metropolitan Manila, the officers composing such body should have a direct
mandate from Metropolitan Manila’s electorate.

Wherefore:

SECTION 1. Creation of the Metropolitan Manila Government. — There is
hereby constituted a Metropolitan Manila Government (MMG) to take the place of
the Metropolitan manila Development Authority (MMDA) created under Republic
Act 7924. The MMG shall have the same jurisdiction, powers, functions, duties
and responsibilities of the MMDA upon the effectivity of this Act.


SECTION 2. Organization. — The MMG shall be composed of a governor,
vice-governor and the Metropolitan Manila Council (MMC). The governor, vice-
governor and members of the MMC shall be elected by the people at large within
Metropolitan Manila embracing the cities of Caloocan, Manila, Mandaluyong,
Makati, Pasay, Pasig, Quezon, Muntinlupa, Las Pifias, Malabon, Marikina,
Navotas, Parafiaque, San Juan, Taguig, Valenzuela and the municipality of Pateros:
Provided, that members of the MMC shall be elected from each of the
congressional districts within Metropolitan Manila: Provided finally, that each
congressional district shall only have one (1) representative.

SECTION 3. Term of office. — The governor, vice-governor and members
of the MMC, whose elections shall be synchronized with the local and national
elections, shall have a term of three (3) years and shall be entitled to hold office for
three (3) consecutive terms. Voluntary renunciation of the office for any length of
time shall not be considered as an interruption in the continuity of his service for
the full term for which he was elected;

SECTION 4. The Governor and Vice-Governor. — No person shall be
elected as governor or vice-governor unless he is a Filipino citizen, at least thirty-
five (35) years of age on the day of the election, able to read and write and a
resident of Metropolitan Manila for at least one (1) year immediately preceding
the day of the election.

The governor shall have the same functions, duties and responsibilities as
the chairman under Republic Act 7924, except that he shall not preside over the
meetings of the MMC. The vice-governor, on the other hand, shall have the same
functions, duties and responsibilities as the general manager under Republic Act
7924, and in addition, shall act as the presiding officer of the MMC but shall over
the session of the MMC, the members present and constituting a quorum shall elect
from among themselves a temporary presiding officer.

In case of permanent vacancy in the office of the governor or vice-governor,
the rule on succession provided under Section 44, Chapter 2, Title I, Book I of
Republic Act 7160 shall be observed.

Leaves of Absence of the governor, vice-governor and members of the
MMC shall be governed by the applicable rules provided under Section 47,
Chapter 2, Title II, Book I of Republic Act 7160.

SECTION 5. The Metropolitan Manila Council. — The MMC shall have
the same jurisdiction, powers and functions as the Metro Manila Council under
Republic Act 7924. The heads of the Department of Transportation (DOTr),
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Tourism
(DOT), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), National Economic and
Development Authority (NEDA), Housing and Urban Development Coordinating
Council (HUDCC), and the Philippine National Police (PNP) or their duly
authorized representatives, shall attend the meetings of the MMC as non-voting
members.


The MMC shall, within sixty (60) days from the constitution of the first
MMG under this Act, adopt its own internal rules of procedure.

SECTION 6. Supervision by the National Government. — The President
shall exercise direct supervision over the MMG in the same manner that the
President exercises supervisory authority over the provinces, highly urbanized
cities and independent component cities.

SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. — The pertinent provisions of Republic
Act 7924, and all laws, acts, decrees, executive orders, proclamations, rules and
regulations, or part or parts thereof which are inconsistent with any of the
provisions of this Act are hereby amended, modified or repealed.

SECTION 8. Separability Clause. — If any part or provision of this Act is
held unconstitutional or invalid, other parts or provisions thereof which are not
affected shall continue to remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 9. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
following completion of its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general

circulation.

Approved.