MMDA recorded more than 25,000 illegal parking violators

An anti-illegal parking operation on West Avenue, Quezon City, in May. —NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

MANILA, Philippines — At least 25,000 illegal parking violators were caught by the no-contact apprehension policy of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.

The MMDA data released on Thursday revealed that 25,469 violators for illegal parking were recorded as of the end of November this year.

The highest number of violation committed by motorists was the violation on the yellow lane policy along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue.

READ: Nearly 540k violators caught by MMDA’s no contact apprehension policy

MMDA released the data after it announced that a higher penalty for the said violation would be implemented next year.

In a regulation released by the MMDA, the fine for attended vehicles parked illegally would be raised to P1,000 starting January 7 next year from the current P200.

The fine for an unattended vehicle, meanwhile, would be raised to P2,000 from P500 while motorists obstructing the road would soon have to pay a P1,000 fine from  P150.

The implementation of the higher fines for illegally parked vehicles was initially set on Wednesday, Dec 19, but the MMDA immediately took back its announcement.

MMDA General Manager Jojo Garcia said the decision to move the implementation on a later date was because the agency was still fixing its system.

“Inaayos pa namin yung system namin sa collections; number two yung sa ticketing; and of course number 3, sabi nga ni Chairman, Christmas season ngayon,” he said in a press conference.

(We are still fixing our collection system; number two, ticketing, and of course number 3, according to Chairman, it’s Christmas season.)/lb

READ: MMDA postpones implementation of higher illegal parking fines