Clearing the streets for the Christmas rush

Christmas is just around the corner—and with it comes predictable gridlock on Metro Manila roads.

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If we are serious about easing the crush during the holiday rush, clearing the roads now is essential. The Metro Manila Council’s recent approval of a street parking ban on national primary roads, and time-based restrictions on secondary roads, is a welcome—but difficult—step in that direction.

On Sept. 17, during the Metro Manila Council meeting, Metro Manila mayors passed the MMDA Regulation No. 25-001 entitled “Harmonizing Public Street Parking in Metro Manila and for Other Purposes.” The regulation prohibits street parking on major thoroughfares (such as EDSA, Roxas Boulevard, C5, Katipunan, Ortigas, Quezon Avenue, and others) and limits parking on certain secondary roads between 7 a.m.—10 a.m. and 5 p.m.—8 p.m. (the peak periods).

The logic behind the ban is strong. Illegal street parking is a chronic culprit in traffic congestion—it shrinks lane space, forces vehicles to maneuver around obstructions, blocks ambulances and fire trucks, and impedes both private and public transport. MMDA has already intensified road-clearing operations, targeting obstructions, illegal parking, and sidewalk encroachments in cities such as Manila, San Juan, Caloocan, and Mandaluyong.