San Juan City gov’t halts MMDA from clearing Mabuhay lanes

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority on Thursday was stopped by the local government of San Juan City from clearing parked cars on the Mabuhay lanes along busy Annapolis Street, a report from GMA's “Balita Pilipinas” by Maki Pulido said Thursday.

The report said city officials asked MMDA personnel to stop their official duty of towing parked cars along the street even since they were using the Mabuhay lanes for pay parking.

The local government of San Juan City charges motorists P30 for the first three hours and an additional P10 for every succeeding hour. But this move limits the moving traffic on the four-lane street to two lanes.

The MMDA told city officials that all ordinances allowing pay parking slots along Mabuhay lanes have already been revoked.

But the city officials resisted and prevented the MMDA there from conducting the clearing operations.

“Nakausap na po ni Attorney [Ranulfo] Dacalos 'yung aming City Administrator si Chairman [Emerson] Carlos tungkol po dito. Pagmi-meetingan [muna ito], pinapahold muna ang pag clear dito..,” San Juan City Public Information Officer Grace Pardines said.

MMDA personnel were forced to back down after waiting three hours for city officials to arrive at the scene.

They were also asked to return the motorcycles they towed in an earlier legal operation in the city.

“Sayang mga effort namin. Nandito na mga resources namin for the operation dapat,” MMDA Supervising Officer Col. Nestor Mendoza said.

Mabuhay or Christmas lanes are alternate routes motorists could use during the holiday season from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

The MMDA's clearing of Mabuhay lanes is part of the country's preparations for the APEC Summit from November 16 to 20 and its efforts to alleviate the Metro's worsening traffic situation. — Andrei Medina/BM, GMA News