HPG seeks ban on vehicle purchase without parking space
September 14, 2015 6:16pm
By JAM SISANTE, GMA News
As part of government's efforts to ease traffic, the head of the PNP-Highway Patrol Group (HPG) on Monday called for a ban on the purchase of vehicles when the prospective buyer does not have a designated parking space.
"It is my recommendation that we should come out with a law providing or prohibiting individuals [from buying or purchasing] motor vehicles without their respective garage," said Senior Supt. Arnold Gunnacao, officer-in-charge of the HPG which is tasked to facilitate traffic management along EDSA.
"We should declare all streets to be no parking zones so the streets will be open for the public," he added.
Gunnacao made the statement during a joint hearing of the Senate committee on economic affairs and committee on public works on Metro Manila's traffic situation.
Senator JV Ejercito, chair of the economic affairs committee, called Gunnacao's recommendation "unpopular" but did not immediately reject it.
"It's an unpopular proposal but actually, practical to solve Metro Manila's traffic problems," Ejercito said.
According to the Chamber of Automative Manufacturers of the Philippines, around 20,000-25,000 vehicles are purchased every month in the country.
Sixty percent of motor vehicle sales come from Metro Manila, the group's president Romel Gutierrez told the Senate hearing.
Crackdown on illegal parking
Also at the hearing, Gunnacao said the police will crack down on illegal parking in order to clear roads in Metro Manila.
He pointed out that they have already began removing illegally parked vehicles in arteries connected to EDSA such as P. Tuazon avenue.
"If all our streets are cleared from illegally-parked motor vehicles, then true enough, there will be smooth road traffic," Gunnacao said.
Senator Vicente "Tito" Sotto III also called on authorities to ensure that motor vehicles are only parked in designated parking slots or areas.
"The streets that can be used as alternate routes of your proposals, mas maganda pong ideklara niyo no parking. Siguradong luluwag," Sotto said.