Manila bans parking along Rizal Ave.

The City of Manila yesterday declared the entire 6.5-kilometer stretch of Rizal Avenue as a no parking zone.

Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada made the declaration after finding that several vehicles were parked illegally along “the busy and perennially clogged thoroughfare” during a clearing operation on Thursday morning.

“This is a major highway. Why parking is allowed along this narrow road is beyond me. Beginning today, the entire stretch of Rizal Avenue will now be a no parking area. Parking in any part of this road will no longer be allowed anytime,” Estrada said.

Fee collection

During the operation on a 3-km portion of Rizal Avenue, from Carriedo Street to Abad Santos Avenue, the Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau (MTPB) also arrested a man who was collecting parking fees from vehicle owners who parked their cars near San Lazaro Hospital.

The man, who was not identified, was said to be an employee of Tokagawa Global Corp.

The man claimed he had a certification from the MTPB allowing the collection of parking fees in the area, but MTPB chief Dennis Alcoreza, who participated in the clearing operation, said parking was “absolutely not allowed in any part of Rizal Avenue.”

“You have no right to charge fees here. Even on the sidewalk, you should not park,” Alcoreza told the parking fee collector.

The MTPB chief noted that the street only had two lanes.

“We can only use one lane now. Being a major thoroughfare, this should be a no parking zone,” he said.

Alcoreza added that the area was not covered by the parking operation contract that Tokagawa Global Corp. entered into with then-Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim in 2012.

He said that Estrada had nullified the deal, citing the Commission on Audit’s observation that the contract was disadvantageous to the government.

Alcoreza said under the 25-year deal, Tokagawa would charge parking fees on motorists in designated areas. But “only” 20 percent of the proceeds go to the city government, he added.

Tokagawa, however, went to court. The case is still pending resolution.

“This is their fault,” Alcoreza said of Tokagawa.

“There is that impression of the public that parking is allowed here, but Mayor Estrada does not allow this,” he added.

At least 30 tricycles, five motorcycles, 15 light vehicles and two “kuligligs” were towed by MTPB traffic enforcers during yesterday’s clearing operation.