Quezon Boulevard now a ‘no parking’ zone

MANILA, Philippines – Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada yesterday declared Quezon Boulevard as a “no parking” zone to decongest traffic in Quiapo.

“Park at your own risk,” Estrada warned motorists who habitually park along the boulevard, causing traffic jams in Quiapo even on Sundays.

“Any illegally parked vehicles along the stretch of Quezon Boulevard would be immediately towed away on sight. No questions asked,” he added.

Estrada warned that barangay officials, policemen and other person who will be caught charging fees to park along the boulevard will be dealt with accordingly.

Last Sept. 15, Estrada also banned parking along Rizal Avenue.

While he acknowledged that vehicle owners frequenting Quiapo may need to make some adjustments, Estrada believes the public will understand as “this is for their own good.”

Originally built in 1939 as a six- to 10-lane road, Quezon Boulevard starts from Lerma street in Sampaloc and stretches up to Quezon Bridge and Palanca street.

It passes through Manila’s major landmarks such as Quiapo Church, Plaza Miranda, Quinta Market and the popular Raon street, dubbed the country’s “electronics capital.”

Dennis Alcoreza, chief of the Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau, said he has received reports that some barangay officials are conspiring with Tokagawa Global Corp., a private firm that won a questionable parking management contract with former mayor Alfredo Lim.

“We even heard that some barangays and Tokagawa have been fighting over money, their parking fee collections,” Alcoreza said.

Under the 25-year deal that Estrada sought to nullify,  Tokagawa would charge parking fees in designated areas.

But only 20 percent of the proceeds go to the city government, a scheme that the Commission on Audit has ruled to be “disadvantageous” to the government.