Parañaque to open ‘friendship route’

MANILA, Philippines - Mayor Edwin Olivarez ordered yesterday the opening of a “friendship route” in Parañaque City’s private subdivisions to ease the traffic jams along the city’s major roads.

He also directed the city treasurer’s office to set aside P30 million for the maintenance of private roads that will be part of the friendship route, which will allow private motorists access to subdivision roads.

“The opening of the friendship route in the city’s private villages, before this year’s Christmas season, will be our immediate solution to the worsening traffic problem. It also will benefit thousands of commuters and motorists not just from Parañaque but likewise nearby cities of Pasay, Taguig, Las Piñas and Muntinlupa,” Olivarez said.

Late last year, the city government conducted a traffic summit and a series of consultations with stakeholders to find solutions to the traffic gridlocks along Sucat Road and Coastal Road as well as the streets surrounding Ninoy Aquino International Airport, BF Homes, Don Galo and Baclaran.

Olivarez also created a committee that will determine which subdivision roads shall be part of the friendship route and formulate the rules and regulations concerning its implementation.

In 1996, Parañaque’s neighboring city, Las Piñas, became the first local government unit in the country to adopt and implement the use of subdivision and village roads as alternative routes to address the traffic problem in the city.