The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has urged the public to cooperate and report illegally parked vehicles, vendors and other modes of road obstruction.
The MMDA, its partner agencies, and local government units in the National Capital Region have resumed the clearing operations on the streets and sidewalks to ensure the smooth flow of vehicular traffic.
The intensified operations began in the cities of Pasay and Parañaque the MMDA field men removed traffic obstructions, including ambulant and sidewalk vendors along the Baclaran service road Roxas Boulevard, Taft Avenue Extension, and the streets of Opeña, Mactan, Lt. Garcia, G.G. Cruz, and Bayanihan,
Makeshift stores, garbage, sidewalk encroachments, and other impediments that contribute to traffic congestion were taken out.
Local government officials inspected the shops that extended to the road in the occupied area and placed merchandise.
LGU’s and policemen also served as security and watchmen to maintain peace and order while the clearing operation was underway.
The MMDA said they will revisit the cleared areas to ensure that the violators will not come back
“We are closely coordinating with the LGUs and the Department of the Interior and Local Government to ensure that these roads will be remain obstruction-free,” MMDA chairman Romando Artes said.
The people can also take pictures of violators, who will be slapped with 1,000 pesos fine for the first violation, 1,500 pesos (second violation) and 2,000 pesos (third violation) or a jail term up to 20 days, the MMDA said.
The agency earlier towed away illegally parked vehicles along the Mabuhay Lanes, the alternate routes used by private motorists avoiding the traffic mess at Epifanio de los Santos Avenue.
The Mabuhay Lanes covered 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,
Greenhills in San Juan, Divisoria, and Carriedo in Manila.
Owners of illegally parked vehicles will also be fined P1,000 and their cars penalized for P2,000.
Towed vehicles will be brought to the agency’s impounding area in Tumana, Marikina.