By the TessDrive Team
The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) had announced Aug. 1 that the Unified No Parking Policy will be implemented in Metro Manila starting Sept. 1 this year. This was announced during the joint DILG, Metro Manila Council, and Regional Development Council meeting last Friday. DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla urged local chief executives (LCEs) in Metro Manila to come up with a unified No Parking scheme by Sept. 1, as part of an ongoing initiative to improve urban livability.
Remulla announced that the implementation will begin with the no-parking enforcement, emphasizing that it will take one month to address the issue at a granular level, with each mayor identifying specific areas in their locality. “Ang mga mayor ang mag-a-identify (The mayors will identify). But they have all agreed that we have to make the cities better and we have to make it more livable,” he added.
Remulla stressed the seriousness of the effort, saying, “We’re going to be very strict about it. Gagawin namin ang whole city map para makita nila saan pwedeng pumarada, saan hindi (We’ll draw up the whole city map so they can see where they can and cannot park).” He added that while Metro Manila is the pilot area, the intention is to roll out similar policies across the country to support nationwide mobility and livability goals.
The meeting was attended by Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chair Romando Artes, San Juan City Mayor and Metro Manila Council President Francisco Zamora, and other NCR mayors.
Remulla noted that one of the proposals being studied is designating all public streets as No Parking zones, especially those that affect major traffic flow. Mayors also recommended a time-based restriction model, similar to Makati City’s ordinance, where street parking is disallowed during rush hours. “What the mayors suggested is that during peak hours, dun talaga walang parking sa mga kalye ng Metro Manila (that’s really when parking on Metro Manila’s streets is not allowed),” he explained.
“We’ll come up with the final versions by Sept. 1, but at least you see the initiative now that the mayors are all in agreement that we have to do something about it,” Remulla added. He also commended Metro Manila’s mayors for their collective commitment to tackle traffic congestion through coordinated and proactive policymaking.
TessDrive’s hot take
The goal of the proposed ban is absolutely necessary for Metro Manila’s future. The worsening traffic situation is unsustainable. According to a 2017 study by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Metro Manila’s crippling traffic congestion continues to drain the Philippine economy of at least ₱3.5 billion every day. And more than the money that’s wasted during gridlocks, one thing that people stuck in traffic will never get back is their time worthlessly spent waiting on the road. So, something must be done now to finally get vehicles, goods, and more importantly, people, moving in our streets so that they don’t lose any more time than what’s necessary to get from point A to point B.
However, a blanket, hastily thought-out ban on street parking is a solution that ignores the root cause of the problem.
Implementing such a policy without addressing the massive deficit in parking infrastructure is like treating a symptom while ignoring the disease. It would likely cause significant social and economic disruption.
A more realistic and humane approach would be a phased and context-sensitive strategy:
1) Prioritize major arteries: Continue and intensify the clearing of “Mabuhay Lanes” and other critical thoroughfares needed for traffic flow and emergency services. This is already being done and has shown some success.
2) Invest in public-private parking solutions: The government should aggressively incentivize the private sector to build multi-level, secure, and reasonably priced parking facilities in strategic locations. However, it should avoid claiming open and green spaces to build these facilities.
3) Drastically improve public transportation: The ultimate solution to reducing car dependency, thus reducing car volumes at all times, is to provide a public transportation system that is safe, efficient, comfortable, and reliable. If taking the bus, MRT/LRT, or a modernized jeepney is a better experience than driving, fewer people will need to bring their cars.
4) Enforce “Proof-of-Parking” for new car buyers: Tackling the problem at the source by requiring new car buyers to prove they have a legitimate parking space is a long-term strategy that prevents the problem from getting worse.
5) LGU-specific ordinances: Instead of a one-size-fits-all ban, allow LGUs to create nuanced parking rules based on the specific character of a barangay or district (e.g., allowing overnight residential street parking on certain streets while banning daytime commercial parking).
no-parking policies more effectively
While we support the objectives of the no-parking scheme, a total street parking ban is a premature and potentially punitive measure at this stage. It should be for the long-term. And unlike how we’ve been doing things in the past, on a trial-and-error basis, this time let’s do this right the first time. The focus right now should be on a holistic approach: Building parking infrastructure, revolutionizing public transport, and enforcing smarter, more targeted regulations.
(Banner image by David Hou/Pexels)