DESIGNATING sidewalks as parking areas is definitely legal as it is pursuant to a long-existing city ordinance which takes the form of a local law.
Thus stressed Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau (MTPB) Adviser Dennis Viaje, who said that the authority to designate parking areas lies in the jurisdiction of the local government unit (LGU), particularly the executive department, which does not stop formulating ways to accommodate the ever-growing number of vehicles in the city.
Speaking at the ‘MACHRA’s Balitaan sa Harbor View’ news forum hosted by the Manila City Hall Reporters’ Association (MACHRA), Viaje said that the city’s authority to designate parking spaces is contained in the very ordinance that created the MTPB City Ordinance 8092.
“Ang pamahalaang-lungsod, iniisip kung paano maa-acommodate lahat dahil patuloy ang pagdami ng mga sasakyan pero ang mga kalye, di naman dumarami. ‘Yung mga bangketa na may naka-park na motor, may butas po sa gitna ‘yun kasi baka sabihin walang madaanan ang pedestrian. Kahit mas mataba sa akin makakadaan,” he explained in jest.
Liga ng mga Barangay President and Manila Councilor Lei Lacuna echoed Viaje’s statement, stressing that the LGU has the right to come up with ways to create parking areas.
“May mga barangay na puro iskinita, mayroong malapad so bawat chairman ay mayroong iba-ibang approach on how to deal with parking problems pero sinisigurado naming alinsunod sa batas,” she said.
For his part, Manila Congressman Joel Chua (3rd district), a lawyer and former majority leader of the Manila City Council, explained that the LGU has the power to regulate its streets and in the form of regulation, “diyan papasok ang ordinansa, ang police power of legislation which is the council, to state alin ang puwede at di pupuwedeng paradahan.”
Under the city ordinance providing for the MTPB’S functions, it is stated that the bureau may establish, operate, maintain and/or administer terminals, parking facilities, bicycle paths, incuding collection or user fees and charges thereto.
“As long as nasa ordinansa, ‘yan ay ibinibigay ng batas. Kung me gusto magtanong, pwede kwestiyunin pero dapat kuwestiyunin muna ‘yung ordinansa na nagbibigay -kapangyarihan sa siyudad para magbigay ng parking,” Chua stressed, in response to those questioning the city government’s authority to use sidewalks as parking areas.
