Atienza moves to keep streets clear

The Manila City government stopped issuing permits to new applicants of car wash and junkyards businesses yesterday because of traffic jam problems.

Mayor Lito Atienza has ordered the city government’s Business Promotion and Development Office to suspend issuing permits because customers of car washes and junkyards already in operations park illegally — on sidewalks and even in streets — and cause traffic jams.

"Roads are for vehicles and sidewalks are for pedestrians. The city government must always maintain order in Manila’s streets and thoroughfares and not allow deterioration to set in like in previous administrations," Atienza said in a statement issued to the media.

He said the city government is constantly removing obstacles to keep the roads clear and traffic moving.

There are currently 24 car wash businesses and 114 junkyards in Manila.

Aside from not issuing new permits, Atienza has also deployed inspectors to check if these businesses are hampering traffic.

He said junkyards and carwash services would be permitted to operate if they could comply with the basic requirements of having 500 to 1,000 square meters of property space for their businesses. — With Jane Comia