Manila: An official of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Tuesday, the second day of classes for school year 2026-2027, reminded the public, especially motorists, that school zones are 'no-parking areas.'
According to Philippines News Agency, Special Operations Group-Strike Force (SOG-SF) chief Gabriel Go stated that the MMDA will not tolerate motorists using the vicinity of schools as parking or waiting areas. "There are no parking zones around schools... no one can park there," he said during the monthly MACHRA Balitaan forum of the Manila City Hall Reporters' Association.
Go highlighted Republic Act 4136, which prohibits parking in ways that obstruct fire hydrants and pedestrian crossings or parking on street corners, among others. He emphasized that public roads are for public use "and we have no right to obstruct them."
"Our way of addressing the 'Balik-Eskwela' is to provide continuous mobility of vehicles and use the roads. the sidewalks are for students and pedestrians, we want to provide not just sidewalks but safe sidewalks," Go added.
Furthermore, the MMDA official encouraged school authorities to report violations through the agency's 24/7 hotline, 136, or the Presidential Action Center's 8888 hotline. He mentioned that the MMDA also receives complaints through its Facebook page and Twitter account.
