As the Yuletide draws near, authorities on Saturday urged the public to help the government in its campaign to get rid of illegally parked vehicles and other obstructions on Mabuhay Lanes, or secondary roads used by private motorists avoiding the congested Epifanio de los Santos Avenue.
Lawyer Emerson Carlos, chairman of the Metro Manila Development Authority, said the government is implementing the Mabuhay-Lane scheme to help private motorists avoid heavy traffic, specially during the holiday rush.
At least 21 special lanes in selected areas in Metro Manila have been opened as alternate routes to shorten the travel time during Christmas holidays, when traffic flow is expected to be heavy, he said.
“A simple help from the community would be a big help for the government to improve traffic. Iyung simpleng paninita lang sa kapitbahay na nagpaparada ng sasakyan sa lansangan, malaking tulong na iyun,” said Carlos in a radio interview.
“We need your help, your cooperation to solve this problem. To clear the roads of obstructions once and for all,” he added.
Carlos acknowledged the support and cooperation of local officials and community leaders in cities of Makati and Mandaluyong, saying the designated Mabuhay Lane routes in those area are already cleared of any illegal structures and other obstructions.
The MMDA chief said earlier that the campaign of his agency in close coordination with local government units, National Police–Highway Patrol Group, and departments of Public Works and Highways, and Interior and Local Government, will be a year-round activity.
Noemi Recio, MMDA traffic engineering chief, said the DILG also has marching orders for barangay officials to clear Mabuhay Lanes (formerly Christmas lanes) of obstructions such as basketball courts, videokes, illegally parked vehicles and even small eateries and canteens.
“The DILG has already manned and instructed the barangays to clear these roads. If these obstructions will be removed, Edsa will no longer be congested as motorists have options to take alternate routes,” she said.
Recio said private motorists can use the Mabuhay Lanes on their way to various commercial centers n Metro Manila. “We have shortcuts to Greenhills, Divisoria and Baclaran. If you are coming from NLEX [North Luzon Espressway], there is no need to use Edsa.”
The Metro Manila mayors decided to help the MMDA to clear the Mabuhay Lanes in their jurisdiction and also provide help to traffic enforcers.
The MMDA recently conducted a series of road clearing operations in cities of Manila, Parañaque, Pasay, San Juan and Quezon City and was able to impound more than 200 vehicles.
Carlos said the routes have already been declared by members of the Metro Manila Council, the MMDA’s policy-making body, composed of the 17 Metro mayors, as no-parking zones.
“Our operations will be from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily,” he said.
Carlos said there will be no issue in towing the illegally parked vehicles to the MMDA’s impounding area in Ultra, Pasig City since the owners could readily pay the fine for the infraction.
“They can claim the cars unlike those colorum vehicles that stay longer in the impounding site,” he said.
Secretary to the Cabinet Jose Rene Almendras said the government will get rid of all obstructions along the Mabuhay Lanes until such time that order and smooth traffic flow have been restored in the streets.
“We need to move people in Metro Manila until we build new bridges across Pasig and expand of all those, there will be room,” he said.
