The Metro Manila Development Authority on Monday formed two groups and resumed operations against illegally parked vehicles and other obstructions along Mabuhay Lanes, the alternate routes designated for private vehicles avoiding congested main roads in the National Capital Region.
The 17 Mabuhay Lanes cover the cities of Mandaluyong, San Juan, Makati, Manila and Quezon City. It also include secondary roads going to shopping destinations in Metro Manila such as Baclaran in Parañaque City, Greenhills in San Juan City, and Divisoria and Carriedo in Manila.
Based on the regulations, the Mabuhay Lanes should be cleared of any kind of obstructions from 6 am to 9 pm.
The MMDA Task Force Special Operations led by its chief Edison Nebrija Jr. on Monday assembled the Task Group Alpha and Task Group Bravo and go against parked vehicles in the areas of Caloocan City, Manila and Quezon City.
Sharon Gentalian, the agency’s chief information officer, said members of the Task Group Alpha concentrated their operation on major streets of Caloocan and along Andres Bonifacio Avenue in Quezon City, and along Mabuhay Lane 2 covering routes from Epifanio de los Santos going to West Avenue, Del Monte Avenue, Sto. Domingo or Biak na Bato, Amoranto, Banawe or D. Tuazon and Maria Clara or Dapitan.
Task Group Alpha personnel, on the other hand, focused their operation on Mabuhay Lane 15 covering the route from Dapitan Zuki Market, Lacson Avenue, Tayuman Street and Dagupan Street to Divisoria, and Mabuhay Lane 16 covering the route from Roxas Boulevard, Claro M. Recto going to Divisoria.
Without using tow trucks, the MMDA on Aug. 31 started its crackdown by issuing three citation tickets against erring motorists for illegal parking on the 17 listed Mabuhay Lanes or express routes connected to Edsa and roads going to commercial districts and shopping hubs in Metro Manila.
Nebrija said the campaign aimed to further ease traffic along Edsa and other major streets as the holiday season draws near when traffic flow is expected to be heavy.
During its first day of intensified operation, Nebrija’s team apprehended a total of 162 vehicles, 90 of them caught for illegal parking, 19 for disregarding traffic sign, nine others for road obstruction in the area of West Avenue, Timog Avenue, Tomas Morato Avenue, E. Rodriguez Avenue, Gilmore Street and N. Domingo Street in Quezon City; and Lacson Street, Tayuman Street, Dagupan Street, Moriones Street and C.M. Recto Avenue in Manila.
The MMDA also apprehended 31 motorcycle riders who were caught without helmets, nine cars for violating the number coding traffic scheme and three colorum vehicles.
MMDA general manager Jose Arturo Garcia Jr. said traffic enforcers were instructed to issue citation ticket to vehicle owners. For unattended vehicles, tickets would be attached to their windshields.
“Motorists who do not have parking space have long been using major thoroughfares and the Mabuhay Lanes as their own parking area. This practice has to stop. This is the agency’s response to hard-headed vehicle owners who defy the MMDA’s illegal parking rules,” said Garcia.
To decrease incidents of corruption and illegal towing activities, the MMDA will not utilize towing services along Mabuhay Lanes but will use them on inner roads upon the request of local government units in Metro Manila.
Last week, the Metro Manila Council agreed to increase the fine for illegal parking in the metropolis. Fine for attended illegal parked vehicles will be raised from P200 to P1,000, while unattended illegal parked vehicles will be increased from P300 to P2,000.
However, the imposition of higher fine will not be enforced yet as the agency officials have yet to meet with MMC’s Special Traffic Committee.
According to Garcia, it is high time for vehicle owners to look for permissible parking areas or be issued with several citation tickets daily.
