MMDA eyes 400% hike in illegal parking fine

MANILA, Philippines — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is pushing for a 400-percent increase in illegal parking fines to address the worsening traffic conditions as the government repairs six bridges in the metropolis, an official said yesterday.

Bong Nebrija, supervising operations officer of the MMDA, said they met with Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista, representatives of the Highway Patrol Group and the traffic management heads of local government units in Metro Manila. 

He said those at the meeting have agreed in principle to increase by 400 percent the fine for attended illegally parked vehicles from P200 to P1,000. 

Nebrija said they have also agreed to raise the fine by 300 percent for unattended illegally parked cars from the current P500 to P2,000. 

 “We have to increase the fine to teach a lesson to traffic violators and at the same time to reduce traffic caused by bridge repairs,” he said.

 The meeting between the MMDA officials, Bautista and other officials was held at an undisclosed venue on Monday.  Bautista is the chairman of the Metro Manila Council (MMC), the MMDA’s governing body. 

 Nebrija clarified that the proposal to increase the fine is not yet final, as they still have to come up with a resolution signed by the Metro Manila Mayors and after a series of public consultations. 

 He said the Metro Manila mayors will still have to submit their position papers on the proposed increase in fines on Sept. 20 and will convene for another MMC meeting with the MMDA. 

 If things go well, Nebrija said the proposed increase in fines will be imposed before the year ends. 

 Starting next week, the MMDA said traffic in Metro Manila is expected to worsen due to the repair of the Old Sta. Mesa Bridge and the Nagtahan Bridge. 

 The MMDA said the traffic will affect major thoroughfares, including EDSA, and the agency is working on clearing alternate routes of obstructions, including illegally parked vehicles.