MANILA — The Metropolitan Manila and Development Authority (MMDA) on Tuesday held the groundbreaking ceremony for its Annex Building in Pasig City and the launching of its enhanced communications and command center.

The ceremony was graced by Department of National Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro and Sen. Sonny Angara who is also the incoming Department of Education secretary.

MMDA said it planned to build a five-story annex building at the agency’s compound in Pasig City.

MMDA acting chairman Atty. Romando Artes said the Annex Building is more than just an extension of its main office.

It will be a significant expansion of the agency’s commitment to public service, he said. It will also be used for trainings, seminars and will serve as an emergency evacuation center in times of disaster.

“This building will serve as a model for sustainable and climate-resilient government infrastructure with solar panels on the roof, rainwater harvesting technology, and advanced earthquake resilience features, the Annex Building will stand as a beacon of our efforts to integrate environmental responsibility into our operations,” Artes said.

The P400-million Annex Building was fully funded from MMDA's local income.  

Courtesy of MMDA

The MMDA also launched its enhanced Communications and Command Center (CCC) equipped with CCTV monitors giving live shots from different parts of Metro Manila.

Artes said the facility can be use by government officials to respond to potential emergencies, natural and man-made disasters, and traffic and flood control management.

“Our MMDA Communications and Command Center will be the nerve center for information management and decision-making, guiding our efforts in traffic control, disaster response, and public safety,” said Artes.

The command center will be integrated with the MMDA Mobile Command Center in monitoring high-level events like the SONA of the President and the Traslacion or the feast of Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazarene in Quiapo Manila every January, among others.

The enhancement of the CCC was funded through the initiative of Sen. Angara. The MMDA CCC is equipped with the latest surveillance and monitoring technology, smart-enabled devices, and an advanced multi-display video wall system. The system includes a graphics controller, wall management software, and workstations.

Teodoro said MMDA offered its CCC as secondary command post of National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and the Office of Civil Defense in case something happens in the government’s Central Command Center in Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.

“Alam po natin na Metro Manila is the heart and soul of this country, not only the financial system - all other systems to include the seat of national government is in Metro Manila. Therefore it is vital that we have a resilient Metropolitan Manila not only its components but also as a whole. That is why MMDA is here, we have disaster risk reduction in place, and we have a safe Metropolitan Manila area,” Teodoro said.