By Rjay Zuriaga Castor
The Iloilo City Transportation and Traffic Management Office (TTMO) announced it will adopt a lenient approach to parking enforcement during the Dinagyang Festival but urged motorists to park responsibly.
“We will be lenient in so far as the usage of parking. But let us not be abusive, like parking as an idiot,” TTMO head Uldarico Garbanzos said during a press conference on Jan. 21.
Garbanzos emphasized that motorists must avoid parking or obstructing designated emergency lanes.
Emergency lanes include portions of Muelle Loney, Rizal Street in Lapuz and La Paz, Nabitasan or Esplanade 5, General Luna Street, Jalandoni Street in the City Proper, and parts of Delgado Street leading to Rizal and De Leon Streets.
Vehicles found violating these restrictions will be clamped or towed, the TTMO warned.
To ease congestion, off-site parking areas have been designated at Muelle Loney (from Zamora Melleza to Parola), the Garden of Love or Senator Efrain Treñas Boulevard, Loboc Mansaya, and Libertad Lapuz.
“We will conduct clearing operations in emergency lanes to ensure that, in the event of a medical evacuation or police assistance call, we can respond immediately,” Garbanzos said.
He also noted that contingency plans are in place for incidents such as stampedes or unattended baggage, while the TTMO is monitoring street vendors using LPG products to ensure public safety.
Regarding vehicle access, the city government has issued car passes only to VIPs, VVIPs, commercial establishments, and residents of the City Proper district.
Garbanzos said TTMO personnel have been reoriented on the car pass system to ensure seamless vehicle entry protocols.
The agency also conducted a conference to train personnel on verifying the authenticity of car passes.
