Within the past years, a couple of bills were filed to address the issue of inappropriately parked cars on the side of the road; which of course is intended for foot traffic. Senator Sherwin Gatchalian filed the Senate Bill No. 368 or more known as the Proof of Parking Space Act which is the same as the Senate Bill No. 201 which he also filed back in 2016. Unfortunately, neither bills were passed.
This particular bill would eventually be the key to addressing obstructed streets. In the bill, it discusses the “need” of a parking space before future car owners can secure a vehicle for themselves.
Read: P40 Parking Fee for the First Eight (8) Hours, Being Looked at by the Senate
In the bill, Gatchalian said that this would boost the campaign of regaining public roads to ease the traffic some streets are having.
Passing this bill will be a big boost to the administration’s campaign of reclaiming public roads and help ease the perennial traffic woes we are experiencing in Metro Manila. I hope President Duterte will certify this bill as urgent as it is very much aligned with his vision of alleviating the constant struggles of the commuting public.”
What does the new bill impose?
Obviously, in the new Senate Bill, it directs everyone; both businesses and individuals within the Metro to be granted new vehicle purchases ONLY after signing an affidavit that would give proof that they have a parking space where they can park their automobile.
Read: Law That Commands Motorcycles to Have Bigger License Plates, Signed by Duterte
The title of the bill dictates itself; people would not be granted new vehicles if they do not have proofs of parking spaces in their homes.
Moreover, the bill also directs all Local Government Units (LGUs), the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), and the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to regularly conduct and have ocular visits and inspections of side streets, narrow streets, and roadways all across the National Capital Region (NCR).
As per the new bill, no car should be parked on the streets, given the fact this new bill prohibits everyone from purchasing automobile vehicles without giving proof of spaces where they can park it.
Read: LTO to Start Giving RFID Refund on August 15, 2019
With the help of LGUs, the MMDA, and the LTO in making sure that the bill is followed—should it be implemented—authorities can completely eradicate and punish people who would not abide by the law.
Metro Manila traffic
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, as well as other Senators who share the same ideals, just has one goal—to decongest the cars by removing illegally parked cars from streets and roads.
Motor vehicle owners should be made responsible to provide permanent parking space for their private vehicles, whether this is made an integral part of their house or building structure, or a leased facility. The street is primarily intended for vehicular or foot traffic and should not be appropriated as personal parking spaces for these vehicles.”
As we all know, the infamous traffic in various streets do not only come from the volume of vehicles; they’re also due to undisciplined drivers who either do not follow road rules and/or who park their cars on streets.
Read: MMDA Wants to Cut the Number of Buses by Half
If you haven’t heard, newly-elect Mayor Isko Moreno started to clear out the famous Divisoria off of its street vendors to clear out and make space for pedestrians.
Within the past days, several members of LGUs and the Metro Manila Council (MMDA) were busy clearing out the streets from illegally parked vehicles.
The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) gave mayors only until September of this year to clear out the streets from these parked cars; everyone hopes that this is to be THE solution to the never-ending traffic problem we are currently experiencing.
Read: Driver-Only Car Ban in EDSA, Looked Into by the MMDA
Hopefully, the no parking, no new car bill would greatly be a positive impact on the current problem our country is currently facing as regards the traffic everyone is allergic of.
What do you think about the no parking, no new car bill that Senator Gatchalian is currently fast-tracking? Do you also think that one of the primary reasons why traffic is not relieved is because of illegally parked cars?
