Marikina City Mayor Maan Teodoro on Monday, Aug. 4, announced that the city government will start to enforce a no parking rule on its main roads as part of its efforts in alleviating traffic congestion in the city.

Teodoro made the statement following the joint meeting between the Metro Manila Council (MMC), Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Aug. 1 which tackled different issues in Metro Manila, particularly traffic and severe flooding.

During the meeting, the DILG proposed prohibiting parking on all public streets between 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Meanwhile, MMDA Chairman Don Artes suggested implementing the parking ban on all public streets, aligned with the MMDA’s expanded number coding scheme, from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

“Sa usapin ng trapiko, hindi pwedeng bahala na si Batman. Kailangan may plano at may disiplina. Kaya dito sa Marikina ay mas paiigtingin natin ang konkretong hakbang (When it comes to traffic, we can't just leave it up to Batman. There needs to be a plan with discipline. So here in Marikina, we will intensify our concrete steps to respond to this)," Teodoro said.

The mayor explained the city government will designate the Road Dike from Sto. Niño to Tumana and Kabayani Road and Sto Niño to Nangka as alternative routes to alleviate traffic in J.P. Rizal.

She said she had ordered all concerned city departments to conduct clearing operations in the said thoroughfares.

The city government will also intensify its no parking rule on its main roads, including Bonifacio Avenue, Sumulong Highway, Shoe Avenue, Gil Fernando Avenue, J.P. Rizal, Bayan Bayanan, PG Molina, Katipunan, and Gen. Ordoñez.

Aside from traffic reforms, Teodoro said the city will also become stricter in implementing other city ordinances, including the curfew on minors, prohibiting residents from drinking liquor outside their homes, not wearing clothes while outside their residence, singing videoke or making loud sounds starting at 10 p.m., public urination, and no smoking ordinances.

In her advisory, Teodoro said individuals 18 years old and below are strictly prohibited from going out of their homes from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m., except for legitimate reasons or if they are accompanied by their parent or guardian.

She added City Ordinance No. 040, Series of 2015, aims to protect the youth from the dangers of gang wars, use of illegal drugs, and liquor drinking in public.

Curfew violators and their parents or guardians will face penalties or will be asked to do community service.

“Hindi lahat ng disiplina ay nangangahulugang kamay na bakal. Tulad ng isang mabuting ina, marunong tayong umunawa at mag alaga, pero kung kinakailangan, magtutuwid at magdidisiplina para sa ikabubuti ng lahat (Not all discipline will require iron hands. As the mother of the city, I will try my best to understand and give you the care you deserve, but when necessary, we will correct and discipline for the good of all)," she added.