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Can any action of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) directly affect any motel business? The Mahal Kita motel in Pasay City thinks so, in fact they are suing Bayani Fernando (BF), chair of the MMDA and are seeking his dismissal.

The reason for this is that Lakambini Hotel Corp., owner of the Mahal Kita motel, believes that the loading bay that was constructed right in front of the motel’s driveway on the northbound lane of the Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) has greatly affected their business. They already filed the case in the Ombudsman’s office.

According to Attorney McNiel Rante who represents Lakambini Hotel Corp., “The loading bay directly obstructs the way of our patrons to the establishment and has also resulted in a piling up of buses in the area,” He said that the motel has lost around 60 percent of its projected revenue, or approximately P600,000 in November when the loading bay was constructed in November.

Together with BF, Rante also named five other MMDA officials as respondents in the complaint. These are Roberto Nacianceno, general manager, Corazon Cruz, assistant general manager planning; Neomie Recio, chief of the planning and design division; and Angelito de Dios and Ramon, directors of the Traffic Operations Center.

BF hasn’t made any statement yet regarding the case, but Nacianceno said, they haven’t done anything wrong since they never touched the motel’s property when they put up the facility. He added that it was built on the road right of way, which is owned by the government, – “When we did that, it was in due consideration of the number of people in the area. That platform was put up based on studies made by our traffic engineering center, which found that it was the best place to do that.”

Nacianceno said that they need not consult the owner of the motel because their property will not be directly affected.

Rante said that before the loading was constructed, traffic was light in the area, but now it is choked with public and private vehicles. Perhaps, this could be the reason for the motel’s decreased in patronage. The loading bay, where more people and vehicles are now gathered, has made patrons shy away from the establishment.

Rante, representing his clients, is pushing through with the case against MMDA. They also filed a civil case against them in a court in Pasay. “Our suit is meant to protest the oppressive implementation of the MMDA’s project that was carried out without consultation with our client. This cannot be. He (BF) must be made to pay for this,” Rante said.