The Metro Manila Development Authority has formed a new team tasked to rid major and secondary streets in the National Capital Region of illegally parked vehicles.
The move came after the agency on June 30 dissolved its old unit whose members were tasked to go after vehicles illegally parked on 17 Mabuhay Lanes, the alternate routes used by private motorists avoiding the congested Epifanio de los Santos Avenue.
“This time, we will get rid of illegally parked vehicles in all roads anywhere in Metro Manila,” said lawyer Crisanto Saruca Jr., head of the MMDA -Traffic Discipline Office.
Saruca said he will supervise the new team of 60 personnel from various offices of the agency, including those from the towing operation and anti-illegal parking groups. He added it will be headed by traffic officer Roldan Aban Sr.
The 17 Mabuhay Lanes are alternative routes to the 23.8-kilometer Edsa. These cover the cities of Mandaluyong, San Juan, Makati, Manila and Quezon City. They also include secondary roads going to shopping destinations in Metro Manila such as Baclaran in Parañaque, Greenhills in San Juan, Divisoria, and Carriedo in Manila.
“The Mabuhay Lanes have been dissolved. The operation was finished on June 30, so we created a new one under the Traffic Discipline Office. This group is for anti-illegal parking operations. The general rule is no parking on the roads and on the sidewalks,” Saruca said.
During operations, Saruca said the team will closely coordinate with local government units, the Department of Interior and Local Government, and the Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group.
The MMDA recently launched a social media reporting system to encourage the public and private sectors to report to the agency traffic obstructions on all roads in Metro Manila.
The report should include the name of the sender and the actual picture including the detailed location where the illegally parked vehicle or the obstruction was spotted and the time it was taken.
The MMDA team tasked to monitor the reports will immediately verify the information and forward it to the Traffic Discipline Office.