Operation ‘Hila-Bara’ launched in Navotas

Navotas Mayor Toby Tiangco intensified yesterday a traffic decongestion campaign with the launching of "Operation Hila Bara."

Tiangco said the drive is part of the Kaayusan sa Kalsada program aimed at helping ease the growing traffic gridlock in the municipality.

The mayor said the program intends to clear the town’s main thoroughfares of illegally parked vehicles and to ensure that local traffic authorities are able to respond quickly to emergency situations.

The mayor also has instructed the Barangay Operation Center to coordinate with barangay officials for proper implementation and enforcement of the "No Parking" campaign along the main streets to keep the flow of traffic constantly moving.

Navotas has two main busy streets — M. Naval street and Gov. Pascual Avenue.

Officials said the situation now is such that if one of these two becomes jammed, the other would be severely affected.

Also, the number of vehicles coming into and going out of town have gradually increased over the years yet most of the town’s streets have remained narrow, making traffic jams a real problem.

One-way traffic is in place in most of the town’s side streets to ease traffic flow in the two main roads.

Tiangco also ordered traffic personnel to go after operators of motor shops using the sidewalks as extension of their shops.

Public Order and Safety Office (POSO) acting chief Isaias Dimalanta said the program proved effective last year. There were 697 apprehensions for violation of the Revised Navotas Traffic Code.

Dimalanta said since there are no private towing services allowed in the town, stalled vehicles are towed and brought to the POSO impounding area on C-4 Road in Barangay Bagumbayan North.

Vehicle owners found violating the town’s traffic code are issued an Ordinance Violation Receipt and imposed a fine of P400 which is paid at the Treasurer’s Office.