By Ralph Lawrence Llemit and Judie Vega
The City Transport and Traffic Management Office welcomed the Senate bill that was filed on Tuesday, requiring vehicle owners to present proof that they have a parking space or garage for their new automobiles.
CTTMO Chief Dionisio Abude on Thursday during iSpeak press conference said that the bill will help in decongesting the roads which was intended to for the passage of vehicles.
“The government is spending millions for these roads and then they will just use it as a parking space.” Abude stressed.
The Proof-of-Parking Space Act, under Senate Bill No. 201, was filed by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, saying this will help ease traffic congestion in the country.
Those found lying about having a parking space will also be penalized.
The bill also aims to ensure that emergency vehicles will have ample space on the roads.
Abude then suggested that Land Transportation Office should be the lead agency once the bill will be enacted.
“LTO should personally inspect the residence of those people purchasing vehicles, to ensure that these people would 100% comply with the requirements,” Abude said.
The Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce, and Entrepreneurship has formed a technical working group to study the measure after receiving full support from different civil society and government representatives during the committee’s recent public hearing.
LTO records showed that the numbers of registered motor vehicles from the year 2015 until 2017 reached 10,410,814. There are an estimated new 1,000 registrants each day, 600 of which are newly purchased vehicles.
As for CTTMO, 734 various types of vehicles, including cars, motorcycles, tricycles, and “payong-payong” known as “sikad” was towed and impounded from January to September this year.
Recently, a total budget of P9.5 million for the purchase of the two new tow trucks, to strengthen its operations against illegally-parked vehicles all over the city.
“We have seen that we have bigger roads now in the city, which are unfortunately made into parking areas by some reckless motorists. We really need to strengthen our campaign against illegal parking and other road violations,” Abude said on a previous report.
Jed Sabando, a private vehicle owner, suggested that the bill should focus its implemented in busy major streets.
“For side streets or residential areas, I think it is not really needed, as long as you don’t double park,” Sabando said.
Jed, who has been a resident in Texas in the United States for quite some time, said that it is not really a big deal in other countries.
“Here in the States, everyone will obey the rules. If your vehicle is parked illegally, then tow trucks will be there to take your car down, and slap you a fine,” Sabando said.
He also added that the proposed bill will have a struggle in its implementation, considering it’s a huge area to cover.
“Honestly, they’re better off just towing and giving out fines for offenders. higher fines and possibility of revoking peoples license if they keep doing it.” He added, “Even though they can show proof, doesn’t mean they’ll actually do it anyways. It’s pointless, since they won’t be able to keep everyone in check.”
