Street parking banned in Metro Manila

MANILA, Philippines — The Metro Manila Council (MMC) approved yesterday a regulation synchronizing street parking in the metropolis, prohibiting vehicles from parking on national roads, Mabuhay lanes and other major thoroughfares.

Under a regulation of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), illegal parking was identified as a major cause of traffic congestion, accidents and disruption to emergency and essential services.

The measure seeks to unify parking rules in Metro Manila.

The regulation strictly prohibits parking on national primary roads, intersections, crosswalks, in front of fire hydrants and driveways, on sidewalks and along identified Metro Manila routes, including EDSA, Roxas Boulevard, C-5, Katipunan Avenue, Shaw Boulevard and Alabang-Zapote Road.

On-street parking may be allowed on national secondary roads through local ordinances, except from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., provided such ordinances conform with the new MMC regulation.

Violators will be issued a Uniform Ordinance Violation Receipt. Unattended cars or vehicles whose drivers refuse to move will be towed and impounded.

The regulation also prohibits terminals of public utility vehicles along national roads, directing local government units to designate transport hubs in their jurisdictions.

Metro Manila mayors are given 30 days to review the regulation and align their existing parking ordinances with the new policy.

Fines and penalties will be imposed based on the Metro Manila Traffic Code of 2023, the MMDA said.

P5,000 fine for littering

Meanwhile, the MMC also approved a resolution directing all mayors in Metro Manila to impose a maximum fine of P5,000 on people caught littering in public places.

San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora, who also sits as MMC president, announced the new policy at a press conference yesterday following the council’s regular meeting at the MMDA central office in Pasig City.

Zamora said garbage should not be disposed in rivers, canals and other waterways.

Each local government unit in Metro Manila is expected to pass its own ordinance to enforce the resolution.

The municipality of Pateros, however, set a fine of P2,500 instead of P5,000.

In August, Zamora said he would push for higher fines for littering amid the waste and flooding problems in Metro Manila.