MMDA to finish clearing 'Mabuhay lanes' by Friday for APEC week

MANILA, Philippines - The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is now rushing to clear the designated "Mabuhay” or alternate lanes across the metro by the end of this week.

Ed Lara, co-head of the MMDA’s “Task Force Mabuhay” said they would try to clear all of the 17 designated Mabuhay lanes of obstructions and illegally parked vehicles so motorists who will not be able to pass through EDSA during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders meeting from November 16-20 can use them.

Lara said the MMDA cleared two Mabuhay lanes in Baclaran in Parañaque and at Tramo in Pasay City.

According to Lara, surprisingly, there were no illegal street vendors in the two areas when clearing crews of the MMDA arrived.

“Maybe they were tipped-off that we were coming. We did not meet any resistance during the clearing,” said Lara.

During the clearing operations, several illegally parked vehicles on the two Mabuhay lanes were towed away, Lara said. From Baclaran and Tramo, the MMDA clearing crews proceeded to clear Mabuhay lanes in Quezon City, particularly Dapitan, Banawe and Maria Clara streets.

On Tuesday, clearing crews of the MMDA assisted by the police and the Manila local government would be clearing Carriedo Street in Sta. Cruz.

Teams from the MMMDA which are tasked to clear the Mabuhay or alternate routes of illegally parked vehicles and obstructions 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 Chair Emerson Carlos said each clearing team would 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.

It would be recalled that an earlier MMDA clearing operation along Annapolis St. in Greenhills, San Juan City was aborted after local city government officials questioned the legality of the operation.

During the confrontation, MMDA Task Force Mabuhay Lanes co-head 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.

Carlos said that 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.

Carlos also urged business establishment owners 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.