As some motorists have this bad habit of turning roads as their parking spaces, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin “Benhur’ Abalos has tasked local government units (LGUs) to free major roads and alternate routes in their respective jurisdictions from all obstructions that impede the smooth flow of traffic.
The use of roads as parking slots for motorists, including in front of business establishments and in front of the house of motorists who do not have their own garage, has been causing bottlenecks in major and alternative roads, especially in Metro Manila and other urban areas.
In the provinces, some road widening projects of the government were also rendered useless as some errant motorists would use them as parking slots, in some cases, including overnight parking.
Abalos said the true solution to ease traffic congestion is mass transport, pointing to the Light Railway Transit (LRT), Metro Rail Transit (MRT), bus carousel system and even the subway.
“So, habang ginagawa pa yung subway, habang piniprepare pa yung mass transport (while the subway is under construction, while the mass transportation is being prepared) what you have right now is of course manufacturing of cars,’’ he added.
He also requested the DILG Undersecretary for Barangay Affairs to monitor all the "Mabuhay Lanes" and impose ‘appropriate sanctions’ to stubborn and non-complying barangay officials.
Abalos did identify the DILG Undersecretary for Barangay Affairs but a statement from Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles, quoting Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez, bared that Barangay Captain Felicito “Chito” Valmocina of Holy Spirit, Quezon City has been picked to serve in the department as an undersecretary.
A check with the DILG directory, however, revealed that Jonathan Malaya and Mario Inringan are the only undersecretaries at present.
Abalos also noted the rise in the number of vehicles on the major thoroughfares and side streets every year with no ‘volume reduction program’ as of the moment.
“So face with that dilemma talagang kailangan magtulungan ang lahat para talagang masugpo itong traffic (there is really a need for everyone to share the responsibility to resolve the traffic woes),’’ Abalos stressed.
Saying that face-to-face classes will probably start in August, Abalos said: "So you could just imagine the volume of vehicles that will really traverse main thoroughfares of EDSA (Epifanio delos Santos Avenue). We will give support to MMDA (Metropolitan Manila Development Authority) at of course dito sa ating mga kasamang LGUs (and of course to our LGU partners)’’ citing the MMDA’s expertise in traffic management.