Win Tayong Lahat

WIN sa balita

Adult diapers for MMDA aides: waste of taxpayers’ money

Photo by Manila Bulletin

A veteran lawmaker has criticized the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority or MMDA for ordering traffic enforcers to wear adult diapers while on duty for the feast of the Black Nazarene on Friday.

 

In a statement issued on Saturday, Valenzuela City Congressman Win Gatchalian said MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino’s decision was a ‘very impractical’ one, seeing the move to waste taxpayers’ money.

 

MMDA traffic enforcers are also being requested to wear the issued adult diapers to work during Pope Francis’ visit next week, January 15 to 19, according to The Associated Press.

 

Instead of spending P120,000 for adult diapers, Gatchalian suggested, the budget could have been spent on food and water for MMDA constables on duty during the Black Nazarene feast and Pope Francis’ visit.

“The adult diaper project is a waste of money. It should have been used instead to rent a sufficient number of portalets for everyone’s use,” Gatchalian said.

 

The MMDA chairman’s adult diaper project became the butt of jokes this week and was bombarded with criticisms in both the mainstream and social media as many find it totally unnecessary since male traffic enforcers can urinate in less than a minute.

 

Even MMDA constables interviewed randomly by radio reporters said they will not wear the issued adult diaper since it is very degrading on their part.

“If the problem is the lack of portable toilets, Chairman Tolentino should have focused on the rental of more portalets where MMDA traffic enforcers can relieve themselves with their dignity and human right intact,” said Gatchalian, a leading member of the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC).

 

This is in response to Tolentino’s statement that there won’t be enough portable toilets for millions of people who will see Pope Francis during his visit on January 18 at the seaside in Rizal Park.

The MMDA has since issued a statement defending the decision, saying that adult diapers have been used in major historical events, such as the Beijing Olympics.