MMDA now armed with memo to clear Mabuhay lanes

MANILA, Philippines — Teams from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) tasked to clear "Mabuhay" or alternate routes of illegally parked vehicles are now armed with copies of a memorandum issued by the Interior and Local Government ordering local government units to cooperate in the clearing.

MMDA Chairman Emerson Carlos said each clearing team will present the memo should any confrontation with local government executives happen during the clearing operation.

"The local government units have long been made aware of the clearing of the Mabuhay lanes. We will continue clearing these lanes of obstructions and illegally parked vehicles," said Carlos.

On Thursday, an MMDA clearing operation along Annapolis St. in Greenhills, San Juan City was aborted after local city government officials questioned the legality of the operation.

READ: Maps Mabuhay or Christmas lanes in Metro Manila

During the confrontation, MMDA Task Force Mabuhay Lanes head Nestor Mendoza explained that operation is covered by the DILG memo which virtually revokes all local government ordinances and permits that allow parking on designated Mabuhay lanes.

The MMDA team was forced to stop the clearing and release some motorcycles that were about to be towed away after it had failed to present the DILG memo when it was demanded by the San Juan City representatives.

Mendoza said the clearing was supposed to start at 7:45 a.m. and targeted some 60 parked vehicles – mostly motorcycles – for towing.

Mendoza said the operation did not push through after representatives from the San Juan City government and the city's Parking and Traffic Office intervened.

During the confrontation, the city representatives informed the MMDA towing team that the parked vehicles are permitted by a city ordinance to park along Annapolis Street for a fee.

Mendoza countered that the MMDA clearing operation is covered by the DILG memo.

But when the San Juan city representatives demanded to see the DILG memo, the MMDA clearing team could not produce it.

The MMDA earlier said it had managed to clear seven of the 17 designated "Mabuhay" or alternate routes across the Metro.

Carlos said they would try to clear all of the alternate routes of obstructions and illegally parked vehicles before the start of the Christmas rush next month.

Last Wednesday, the MMDA and the Manila City government cleared alternate routes in Divisoria and Carriedo of illegally parked vehicles. Carlos said 42 illegally parked vehicles were towed away and were impounded by the MMDA.

Since the clearing operations started last Monday, the MMDA and the various local government units have impounded 119 vehicles that were illegally parked on Mabuhay lanes.

Carlos said even as the MMDA will only go after illegally parked vehicles on the Mabuhay lanes from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., vehicles are not allowed to park on the designated Mabuhay lanes on a 24-hour basis.

Meanwhile, Carlos urged owners of establishments along the designated Mabuhay routes to find proper parking spaces for their customers.

"Streets are not parking lots. I would suggest that they find other parking areas for their business," he said.

Cabinet Secretary Rene Almendras earlier said the clearing of the alternate routes would continue even after the Christmas season has ended.

"There is a DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government) memorandum stating that these Mabuhay lanes should be cleared of obstruction," he said.

Almendras said special teams will check if there would be illegally parked vehicles on the alternate routes after clearing operations end at 9 p.m.