The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Wednesday resumed its campaign against illegally parked vehicles and other obstructions along Mabuhay Lanes, the alternate routes used by private motorists avoiding the perennially congested Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA).
In Panay Avenue, Quezon City, the MMDA apprehended 23 illegally parked vehicles within just 30 minutes.
Owners of illegally parked vehicles were slapped with P1,000-fine, while owners of unattended illegally parked vehicles would have to pay double that amount. Towed vehicles would be brought to the agency’s impounding area in Tumana, Marikina City.
MMDA chairman Romando Artes said they would conduct regular clearing operations on all Mabuhay Lanes in close coordination with local government units, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, and the Philippine National Police.
“The MMDA is serious in its bid to decongest EDSA and provide motorists with alternate routes that are passable and free from obstructions. We are closely coordinating with the local government units and the Department of the Interior and Local Government to ensure that these roads will be maintained obstruction-free,” Artes said.
The MMDA chief also said the agency aims to make all Metro Manila roads hassle-free within three months.
“We want to ensure that at the end of our term, we will turnover obstruction-free and orderly Metro Manila roads to the next administration,” he said.
The MMDA enjoins the people to cooperate and report through the agency’s social media account illegally parked vehicles and other obstructions on major roads.
Motorists could also take pictures of illegal vendors, basketball courts, gambling tables and other structures, including road diggings that obstruct thoroughfares.
The so-called 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 toward shopping destinations in Metro Manila such as Baclaran in Parañaque, Greenhills in San Juan, and Divisoria and Carriedo in Manila.
Meanwhile, Artes said there was a need to revisit the number coding since vehicular traffic remained below the pre-pandemic levels. He added that the runaway gasoline prices could be another factor to the lesser number of vehicles along EDSA.