DILG, MMDA want partial street parking ban to ease traffic

Traffic continues to get worse in the Metro as more and more vehicles are added to our roads. And with that, the country’s government agencies, along with Metro Manila Mayors, have convened to try and find solutions to this problem.

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) have suggested banning street parking at select hours to ease congestion.

DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla proposes enforcing the parking ban in public streets from 5:00 AM to 10:00 PM, while MMDA Chairperson Romando Artes suggested a no side street parking policy that aligns with the number coding hours, which are from 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM, and 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM.

Both proposals will cover inner roads or secondary and tertiary public roads, while major thoroughfares like EDSA and Mabuhay Lanes remain under a strict no-parking policy.

In a recent study by Tomtom Traffic Index, Metro Manila has one of the worst traffic problems in the world. Motorists often use alternate routes and side streets when major thoroughfares are congested, especially during rush hour. But when the aforementioned routes are also littered with illegally parked vehicles, it only makes the traffic situation worse.

The Metro Manila Council will have a technical working group that will study the implementation of a street parking ban based on the constraints and situation of each city. By September 1, the council is expected to come up with a resolution for the matter at hand, along with other policies discussed for the Metro.

With the lack of parking buildings and other infrastructure that accommodates vehicles without a proper parking garage, a total ban on street parking may not be fully enforceable. Nevertheless, keeping roads clear at hours when people need to be on the move should be a step in the right direction.