Unified Street Parking Ban Across Metro Manila Eyed by DILG, MMDA

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) are collaborating to implement stricter street parking rules in Metro Manila, aiming to reduce traffic congestion.

The proposal was discussed during a joint meeting between the DILG, MMDA, and the Metro Manila Council (MMC) held at Camp Crame on Friday, August 1, 2025.

DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla said the agency proposed prohibiting parking on public roads from 5 am to 10 pm.

“The law says public streets are not for private enterprise, and we consider parking a private enterprise, a private car on a public street,” Remulla told reporters in an ambush interview.

He added that the government plans to declare key roads as “no parking zones,” particularly those identified as traffic hotspots.

On the other hand, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Romando Artes recommended a more flexible scheme, suggesting parking be prohibited only during peak hours, specifically from 7:00 am to 10:00 am and 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

“In our observation, there are hours before and after rush hour when parking may still be allowed,” Artes noted.

However, Metro Manila Council (MMC) head and San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora emphasized that local governments prefer to maintain control over parking regulations on inner, secondary, and tertiary roads.

“There’s no total parking ban for now. Each city will submit their recommendations on which areas may still allow parking,” he added.

To move the plan forward, the agencies agreed to form a technical working group (TWG) composed of representatives from each local government unit (LGU) in the National Capital Region. This group will determine which roads will be covered by the parking restrictions.

“The intent is to make Metro Manila more livable,” DILG Secretary Remulla said.

The final guidelines for the proposed Metro Manila street parking policy are expected to be released by September 1, he added.

Meanwhile, instead of the partial ban proposed by the DILG, MMDA, and LGU, a lawyer’s group is pushing for a total ban on street parking in Metro Manila.

Albert Sadili, spokesperson for the Lawyers for Commuter Safety and Protection (LCSP), said the group believes street parking should be prohibited, regardless of the time of day.

“Street parking should be prohibited at all hours, not just during rush hours. Illegally parked vehicles are a persistent obstruction not only to traffic flow but also to emergency services,” the LCSP said in a statement.