MMDA: 748 held for illegal parking

MANILA, Philippines — More than 700 people were apprehended during road clearing operations conducted by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) last week.

From Jan. 23 to 28, the MMDA said 748 people were given violation tickets for illegal parking.

MMDA personnel also towed 201 vehicles and dismantled 88 structures considered to be road obstructions.

The MMDA cleared major roads, Mabuhay lanes and sidewalks of obstructions such as illegally parked vehicles and other structures.  Mabuhay lanes are used as alternate routes for motorists to avoid traffic congestion along major thoroughfares.

Last week, employees of the MMDA Task Force Special Unit conducted clearing operations in Manila, Pasay, Parañaque and Barangay Commonwealth in Quezon City.

The road clearing operations usually turned hostile with the owners of illegally parked vehicles, the MMDA said.

Last week, Barangay 51 chairman Rommel Bravo reportedly punched a member of the MMDA team who was trying to remove a water compressor from his car wash along Dagupan Extension in Tondo, Manila.

Bravo said the equipment was a property of the barangay, and that he put up the car wash shop as a source of additional funding for the barangay.

He is facing charges of physical injury and grave threat.