MMDA, DILG conduct TWG for Unified Illegal Parking Policy

The persistent issue of illegal parking is one of the primary causes of traffic congestion in Metro Manila. A direct result of little to no urban planning (with the exception of a few planned business districts), these illegally parked vehicles create significant bottlenecks, severely disrupting the flow of traffic across the capital.

In a direct response to this chronic traffic congestion, a Technical Working Group (TWG) headed by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has met to tackle illegal street parking. The group’s objective is to standardize traffic rules to create a more efficient and safer road network for all. These could mean a unified policy on the removal of obstructions such as illegally parked vehicles, a standardized table of fees, and the designation of parking and no parking areas.

Led by MMDA Assistant General Manager for Operations David Angelo Vargas and DILG Undersecretary for Plans and Programs Atty. Jon Salvahan, the meeting centered on proposals for a single, unified illegal parking policy across Metro Manila.

Traffic officials and representatives from local government units (LGUs) also joined the discussion, acknowledging the need for a cohesive strategy to address a problem that compromises the flow of traffic on a daily basis. Additionally, the MMDA outlined a plan to deputize more traffic enforcers, which is a crucial step to improve enforcement on the ground.

The TWG is now tasked with drafting the new rules, which will be submitted to the DILG and ultimately presented to the Metro Manila Council (MMC), which is composed of the 17 Metro Manila mayors.