Reserved parking issues are also a barangay concern, – Calizo

“SINCE RTA is already experiencing lack of personnel, we can also deputize our respective barangays, because they can enforce already their authority to clear their respective areas.”

This was pointed out by Councilor Romeo V. Calizo during the regular session in reaction to the special report of Councilor James K. Judith II regarding the reserved parking spaces of private establishments in the downtown area.

While the matter was referred to the Roads and Traffic Administration (RTA) and the Committee on Public Utilities for appropriate action, Calizo also emphasized the vital role of barangays in resolving this problem directly for proximity reasons.

According to the councilor, the issue has been raised to his committee several times already in the past and appropriate provisions of law were even reiterated and reviewed for its resolution but the same continues to this day because of lack of enforcement.

He also agrees with Judith’s point when he cited that the RTA may act only on a certain level, thus their actions are limited.

“Just like enforcing the setback rule, even on the provisions cited in the memorandum sent to the local government by the DILG (specifically) on the road clearing mandate, it can hardly be enforced because of the absence of a lawyer at RTA. They may be successful in clearing the road today but tomorrow again the same offender will do the same. We need legal actions, actually,” Calizo explained.

To prove the efficacy of the barangay’s role in solving this problem, the councilor cited Barangay Nazareth’s initiative by leading the vehicle to occupy only one road while the other side is kept clear so as not to hamper the traffic flow therein. Some other barangays do the same except Divisoria, Calizo added.

OBO needs to have its own lawyer

Referring to the same problem on reserved parking space, Calizo reiterated the suggestion for OBO (Office of the City Building Official) to hire their own lawyer who will handle setback violation matters and other relevant building issues.

“The issue on the setback that is supposed to be imposed on all these buildings along the roads of Divisoria can hardly be imposed at this point in time. In fact, the problem then of the OBO (was) not the technical experts on engineering, and building construction, but they need lawyers. Because if we still solicit the idea of our City Legal Office, they might be overburdened already,” the councilor further manifested.

With this, Calizo requested for the matter to be tackled not only by his committee but also by the Committee on Barangay Affairs, chaired by Councilor Yan Lam,S. Lim, for appropriate action.