The Abominable Outcomes of Nuisance Parking in Tondo, Manila

Community dilemmas are local concerns that can only be solved through engaging the people in a place. As vehicles on roadways propagate, the peril of illegal parking persists to incessantly plague already congested communities. When it comes to vehicles and traffic in the Philippines, the unfortunate reality that lies is that our cities cannot accommodate a deluge of automobiles. Tondo is one of the areas in Manila City that receives many obstruction complaints about road blockage. The impassivity of citizens and city administrations only makes it more detrimental. Undoubtedly, parking spaces are woefully falling short of our requirements. Still, who actually is to condemn for illegal parking?

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau (MTPB) administered clearing regulations in Manila City in May 2018. They abolished obstructions that include a makeshift pool on the stretch of Capulong Street in Tondo. The citizens of Capulong Street, Tondo, Manila were astonished upon witnessing the clearing operations group and anti-illegal parking members destroy all sorts of impediments. The problem of illegal parking and illegal vending has been existing for decades already. We lack discipline. We continue performing our old ways, old habits, and that is what we want to break. The austerity of intricacies caused by illegal parking ranges from congestion to loss of revenue to fatal accidents; its impact causes developed countries to enact policies. The governance in the city of Manila, especially where the dilemma is most prevalent, should aim to tame the beast. When it comes to pinning the blame on someone, enforcement and governance inefficiencies are often looked at. The absence of citizens’ regard for laws and city ordinances is just as horrifying as the disinclination of the police to reinforce them. However, when we look at the bigger picture, we apprehend that one of the notable contributors to the problem is that the Philippines is a developing country. A significant contributor to the menace of unauthorized parking in Tondo is the lack of information surrounding available parking areas. In the absence of crucial data, motorists often resort to parking in the first vacant space they can find, even if vehicles are not designated there. While parking violations find a place in the law, our policymakers do not seem to have a sophisticated knowledge of the subject matter. As parking spaces in urban areas shrink, we must look for resolutions that not only help the current circumstances, nevertheless, but also prevent future crises. Although stricter implementation is the policymaker’s response to illegal parking, enforcing a solution necessitates an intellectual perception of the root causes and patterns of the predicament. Likewise, the ability to assess the impact of a particular enforcement strategy is equally vital. Short-sighted protocols like restraining access to car ownership are not going to prove very effective. A longer-term outlook of the situation is a must that entails proper planning and technological support.

Technology like smart parking is ideal in curbing the problem of illegal parking. With the utilization of sensors, software, and flexible payment systems, the IoT-enabled solution does an efficient job of presenting commuters with available parking spots; thus, directly bringing violations down. It also decreases the time consumed seeking parking locations and maximizes revenue generated by parking operators. Problems in parking can be similarly solved by smart parking apps that highlight such spaces and make them accessible to users. In the inadequacy of modern technological resolutions, illegal parking will only progress in urban areas. No matter how many parking infrastructures and policies are created, the city government must have the political will to follow through and implement legislation. Otherwise, the issue of illegal parking will only result in a domino effect, affecting mobility, economy, environmental condition, and the general well-being of communities.