Manila moves to clear streets of parked vehicles 1306 SHARES Share it! Share Tweet

Every little bit counts in the total effort to solve the Metro Manila traffic problem. Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada has decided to carry out in his city a program to rid city streets of illegally parked vehicles.

The Metro traffic gridlock started as a problem on Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA). As vehicles sought alternative routes to their destinations, they turned to various side streets, only to find these filled with parked vehicles of all kinds. In many of these streets, especially those along markets, one lane is occupied by vendors, another by parked vehicles, leaving only one narrow space for traffic. With side streets blocked, motorists return to EDSA; at least there are traffic officers there to keep vehicles moving even if at a snail’s pace.

Manila actually began its road-clearing project on major city streets, such as Quezon Blvd. where vehicles used to park almost the whole day beside the Quiapo Church and Quiapo Market. It will now extend the clean-up drive to secondary roads that serve as alternate routes, Mayor Estrada said.

For the renewed campaign, six teams have been formed for Manila’s six districts, each team of 25 to 30 men backed by two tow trucks and a mobile propaganda team. At 7 a.m., the teams will go around the neighborhoods to warn vehicle owners and tell them to clear the street within 10 minutes. Violators will be fined – from P3,000 for a car up to P8,000 for a big truck.

As this problem of illegally parked vehicles exists all over Metro Manila, the other cities of the metropolitan area should have similar programs. If all local government units had this program, it would go a long way in easing the Metro-wide problem, while the national government through the Department of Transportation (DOTr) waits for Congress to approve the emergency powers it seeks.

We still need the comprehensive long-range plan of the DOTr, which will include new infrastructures, relocation of traffic routes and stations, new rules on vehicle ownership, scheduling of traffic-causing activities such as class openings and mall sales.

Mayor Estrada’s move to clear city streets of illegally parked cars may be just a small part of the total project, but any effort at all to help ease the long-unsolved problem is welcome and should prod all other concerned officials to see what they can do in their own areas and within their own capacities to help with this long-standing problem.

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