Starting today, August 31, 2018, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority or MMDA will start issuing citation tickets to illegally-parked vehicles, specifically on the so-called “Mabuhay lanes” to clear alternative routes of obstruction.

MMDA General Manager Jojo Garcia said the crackdown will be conducted from 6 AM to 9 PM on the 17 listed Mabuhay lanes or express routes connected to EDSA and roads going to commercial districts and shopping hubs in Metro Manila.

Violators may be charged with at least three citation tickets with corresponding penalty. A fine of P 200 for violating the illegal parking rule, P 150 for disregarding traffic signs, and P 150 for obstruction.

“Traffic enforcers are instructed to issue citation ticket to vehicle owners. For unattended vehicles, tickets will be attached to their windshields,” said Garcia, in a press conference on Thursday.

“Motorists who do not have parking space have long been using major thoroughfares and the Mabuhay lanes as their own parking area. This practice has to stop,” he added.

More than a thousand traffic enforcers are tasked to remove vehicles obstructing the traffic flow on Mabuhay lanes.

“This is the agency’s response to hard-headed vehicle owners who defy the MMDA’s illegal parking rules,” said Garcia.

To decrease incidents of corruption and illegal towing activities, the MMDA will also not utilize towing services along Mabuhay lanes but will use them on inner roads upon the request of local government units in Metro Manila.

“There are many complaints about abusive towing firms. We do not want the efforts of our traffic personnel to go to waste because of them,” Garcia said.

Last week, the Metro Manila Council (MMC) agreed to increase the fine for illegal parking in the metropolis. Fine for attended illegal parked vehicles will be raised from P 200 to P 1000, while unattended illegal parked vehicles will be increased from P 300 to P 2,000.

However, the imposition of higher fine will not be enforced yet as the agency officials have yet to meet with MMC’s Special Traffic Committee.