By Brian Campued
The Metro Manila Council (MMC) on Tuesday approved the street parking ban on national primary roads in the National Capital Region (NCR), with target implementation before the onset of the holiday rush season to ease traffic congestion.
In a press conference held at the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) head office in Pasig City after the Council’s meeting, MMDA Chairperson Romando Artes said the move is in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to reduce obstructions in major roads and ensure safe access for all road users.
“We acknowledge that illegal parking in public streets in Metro Manila is a major cause of traffic congestion, traffic-related incidents, hindrance to delivery of emergency and essential services, and revenue losses for business and that regulating public street parking will promote general welfare and maintain peace and order among residents of Metro Manila,” Artes said.
Street parking on national secondary roads, meanwhile, is prohibited from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
“LGUs will determine what roads where parking will be allowed which have less foot traffic and won’t cause obstruction to traffic, especially emergency vehicles,” MMC President and San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora explained.
“Kaya mahalaga na hindi ito total street parking ban… Kung meron tayong total street parking ban… saan po ba talaga paparada ang mga sasakyan? Kaya ang naging approach ng MMC ay localized. Merong mga kalye na absolutely na hindi puwedeng pumarada, at ‘yung ibang mga kalye na hindi gaanong nadadaanan ‘yon po ang puwedeng through local ordinances puwedeng paradahan,” Zamora added.
Under the MMDA Regulation No. 25-011, the following areas where street parking is strictly not allowed are:
- C1: CM Recto Avenue (from Roxas Boulevard to Legarda Street)
- C2: President Quirino Avenue (from Roxas Boulevard to R10)
- C3: Araneta Avenue (N. Domingo to R10)
- C4: EDSA (from Monumento Circle to Macapagal Avenue)
- C5: Katipunan/CP Garcia (Commonwealth Avenue to South Super Highway)
- C6: Southeast Metro Manila Expressway
- R1: Roxas Boulevard (P. Burgos to NAIA Road)
- R2: Taft Avenue (from Lawton to Redemptorist)
- R3: Osmeña Highway or South Super Highway (from Quirino Avenue to Nichols Interchange)
- R4: JP Rizal (from intersection of Pedro Gil Tejeron, Manila City to P. Zamora, Taguig City)
- R5: Ortigas Avenue (from Santolan to Imelda Avenue)
- R6: Marcos Highway/Magsaysay Boulevard/Aurora Boulevard (from Legarda St.-Ramon Magsaysay to C5 Katipunan)
- R7: España Boulevard/Quezon Avenue/Commonwealth Avenue (from Carlos Palanca to Quezon Avenue to Commonwealth Avenue to Mindanao Avenue)
- R8: A. Bonifacio Avenue (from Blumentritt to EDSA Balintawak)
- R9: Rizal Avenue/McArthur Highway (from Carriedo to Monumento, Caloocan City)
- R10: Delpan; 2nd Street to Navotas Terminal
- Bonifacio Drive; P. Burgos Street to 2nd Street
- Elliptical Road
Mindanao Avenue - Marcos Highway
- Dr. A. Santos Avenue (Sucat Road)
- Ninoy Aquino Avenue
- Shaw Boulevard
- Boni Avenue
- Alabang-Zapote Road
Public utility vehicle terminals will also be banned on national primary and secondary roads. The MMDA said that LGUs will identify alternative sites for these terminals within their jurisdictions.
On the other hand, emergency vehicles, including fire trucks and ambulances responding to an emergency, stalled vehicles, and other authorized vehicles are not covered by the parking ban.
Violators will be slapped with penalties under the Metro Manila Traffic Code of 2023, according to the MMDA.
The newly formed Swift Traffic Action Group (STAG), equipped with body cameras, will handle enforcement of the street parking ban.
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