Marikina to tear down subdivision gates
There are objections from some homeowners’ associations, but they have to comply
The City Council of Marikina has passed an ordinance mandating the removal of gates of subdivisions in Marikina City to give motorists alternate routes to ease traffic woes in the city.
“Last week, we have approved the removal of gates of subdivisions to give alternate route to motorists. The idea is to use their roads,” Councilor Donn Favis said in a press briefing on Wednesday.
Despite objections from some homeowners’ associations, Favis reiterated that they will have to comply soon.
“There are objections from some homeowners’ associations, but they have to comply. We have already passed this in the council,” he said.
Mayor Marcelino “Marcy” Teodoro said some of the subdivisions have voluntarily removed their gates in compliance with the ordinance, which was created in compliance with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) memorandum circular.
Teodoro also disclosed they are now requiring business owners to provide proof-of-parking space before they can obtain a permit from the city government.
Under the “No Garage, No Building Permit” Ordinance, businesses are required to provide adequate garage facilities as a requirement on the issuance of a building permit for the construction of their structures in Marikina City.
“Anyone who intends to construct a structure shall be required to show proof like the presentation of a building plan or blueprint or, attesting to the availability of a permanent parking space or facility on his/her proposed construction as a requirement for the issuance of a building permit,” the Section 3 of the amended ordinance stated.
The amendment on the city ordinance was primarily authored by Councilor Favis.
“So, technically it would be to require as a prerequisite for the application and approval of a building permit to have a vehicle provision for parking. Mandatory. That way, we could resolve the problem of residential structures parking their vehicles on roads,” Favis said.
The councilor explained that requiring such will unclog or lessen the number of vehicles parked on some roads where the city government allow parking.
“In Marikina, it is a no-no to park on sidewalks. But now, we now allow on certain roads parking on one or both sides. Through that ordinance we can lessen vehicles parked on the roads and streets, of course declogging traffic, and handle problems with homeowners who think that they have a parking slot in front of their homes,” he added.
Favis said the amendment to the ordinance was done to make sure that roads in Marikina City will be utilized by motorists, saying it was in compliance with the directive of the DILG to clear roads and sidewalks of obstructions.
“The truth is, roads are not owned by either the residents, living or operating a business in the area. They do not own it. Only the government owns them. Streets are government property, maintained by the government, and constructed by the government, and purely must not serve as parking space. This is in compliance with the DILG directive to clear the roads of obstructions,” he said.
Streets are government property, maintained by the government, and constructed by the government, and purely must not serve as parking space.