Partial ban on street parking in NCR proposed by DILG, MMDA

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Friday suggested a partial parking ban on public streets in the National Capital Region (NCR).

In an ambush interview after a meeting with concerned officials, DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla said the agency proposed to ban street parking in the region between 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. 

“The law says that public streets are not for private enterprise. And we consider parking a private enterprise. A private car on a public street,” Remulla said.

“So we will now designate them as no parking zones especially in the streets which affect Metro Manila traffic. Magiging bawal na. It's a modification of what we have now,” he added.

MMDA chairperson Romando Artes suggested implementing a ban on side street parking only during rush hours, covering 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. 

“Sa amin namang obserbasyon, meron namang pagkakataon na before or after rush hour na we think na puwede namang payagan,” Artes said.

(From our observation, there are times before or after rush hour that we think could be allowed.)

“Pero again, sabi nga ni Secretary Remulla kailangan naming pag-aralan yan at ma-decide through a technical working group on a case-to-case basis per city or LGU,” he added.

(But again, Secretary Remulla said we need to study that and decide through a technical working group on a case-to-case basis per city or LGU.)

Inner roads

Meanwhile, the Metro Manila Council (MMC) head, San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora, said the NCR local chief executives prefer retaining their individual ordinances on non-busy streets.

“When it comes to the inner roads, secondary, tertiary roads, ang gagawin po natin ay ang bawat LGU po ay mag-aassign para maging bahagi ng isang technical working group,” Zamora said.

(When it comes to the inner roads, secondary, and tertiary roads, what we will do is assign each LGU to be part of a technical working group.)

“Walang total parking ban for now. Ang pag-uusapan po is kada city sila po ay magsa-submit ng kanilang recommendations alin yung pwedeng payagan,” he added.

(There is no total parking ban for now. What will be discussed is that each city will submit their recommendations on which ones can be allowed.)

The final version of the policy for public street parking in Metro Manila is expected to be released on September 1, according to Remuula. —VAL, GMA Integrated News