In a significant move to improve traffic management and road safety, the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) have formalized a partnership. The agreement, signed on December 18, 2024, at the GSIS headquarters in Pasay City, was witnessed by key figures including GSIS President Wick Veloso, MMDA Chairman Romando Artes, and MMDA General Manager Procopio Lipana.
The collaboration will see the continued use of the GSIS Julia Vargas property in Pasig City for the MMDA Motorcycle Riding Academy, which plays a crucial role in educating riders and promoting safer roads. Additionally, the site will offer temporary office spaces for MMDA staff during their office renovations, ensuring uninterrupted service.
Further expanding their cooperation, the GSIS Tumana property in Marikina will be transformed into a strategic hub for MMDA’s traffic management operations, including vehicle impounding and enforcement activities.
Veloso highlighted the growth of this partnership, which originated in 2015 as a basic property agreement. He praised the development as a model of effective inter-agency collaboration, stating, “What started as a basic agreement has become a prime example of what government agencies can accomplish through collaboration.”
He further explained that the recent agreement is a step towards more responsive and efficient urban governance, aligning with the Marcos administration’s strategy of a whole-of-government approach. This approach emphasizes agency collaboration to optimize resources and enhance public service delivery. Veloso concluded, “When agencies work together, we become stronger,” underscoring the power of unity in government operations.