Congressman Joet Garcia and Gov. Abet Garcia flash the 1Bataan sign. Contributed photo
BALANGA CITY — The House of Representatives is set to transmit to the Senate its version of the bill placing the Metro Bataan Development Authority (MBDA) under the Office of the President.
Bataan 2nd District Rep. Jose Enrique Garcia III said on Thursday that House Bill 8218 or the MBDA Act that he principally authored was approved by the House on third reading and to be calendared for deliberation in the Upper Chamber.
With the MBDA Act turning into a law, he said that it will have funds coming from the national government being under the Office of the President.
In the present set-up, the MBDA is funded and supervised by the provincial government. It attends to the smooth flow of traffic, maintenance of peace and order, rescue operations in cases of accidents and aiding distressed motorists, among some, others along the Roman Highway from Dinalupihan to Mariveles.
“Inaasahan natin na makapag–hire ng additional personnel, makabili ng kailangang mga kagamitan, sasakyan at pag–upgrade ng computer systems para lalong makatulong sa ating local government unit sa pananatili ng maayos na daloy ng trapiko, mabilis na pag responde sa sari-saring emergencies, pagbabantay ng ating seguridad, pagpapatupad ng mga ordinansa, atbp,” the congressman said.
He said that MBDA has a big role once the planned Bataan–Cavite interlink bridge materializes.
“Ayon sa konsultasyon na ating ginawa simula pa noong 2019 kasama ang mga kinatawan at opisyal ng barangay, munisipyo/siyudad/probinsya at iba’t ibang sektor, ang institutionalization ng MBDA ay napakahalaga sa tuloy-tuloy na suporta ng pamahalaang nasyonal para makatulong sa bawat Bataeño,” Garcia said.
