Metro Manila mayors urged: Finalize parking ban by September 1

MANILA, Philippines — Metro Manila mayors should come up with a unified no-parking scheme by Sept. 1, according to Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla.

“The intent is to make Metro Manila more livable,” Remulla said on Friday at a meeting with the Metro Manila Council (MMC) and Regional Development Council.

Designating all public streets as no-parking zones during rush hour is one of the proposals being studied, he said.

San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora yesterday told dzBB that a total ban on street parking in Metro Manila is not feasible.

“Instead of a total ban on 100 percent of roads, the suggestion is for each city to submit a list of roads where one-side parking or parking during certain hours, like nighttime, may be allowed,” Zamora, who heads the MMC, said.

A technical working group will be formed to consolidate recommendations from each local government unit, with a firm position expected by September, he noted.

San Juan has been prohibiting parking on main roads and Mabuhay lanes since 2019, Zamora said, adding that secondary and tertiary roads may require different rules due to their lower traffic volume.

Meanwhile, labor group Federation of Free Workers (FFW) is supporting the proposed ban on street parking to decongest traffic in Metro Manila.

The principle of “car ownership does not guarantee street parking” should be adopted in the capital since public roads are not private garages, FFW president Sonny Matula stressed.

“Some of us visited Singapore. There are only around 14,500 designated on-street parking spaces, strictly regulated through signage, mobile enforcement and heavy penalties,” he pointed out.

Aside from the free Love Bus, Matula said expanding the operations of the Philippine National Railways, Metro Rail Transit and Light Rail Transit would address traffic congestion.

“One double-decker bus – like those in Singapore or London – can carry up to 100 passengers, replacing 80 private cars while taking up far less road space,” he pointed out. — Mark Ernest Villeza, Mayen Jaymalin