On any given day, you’ll find a new Parkeserye episode on Facebook. Photos of cars shamelessly parked on sidewalks, pedestrian lanes, or right smack in the middle of the road. Captions are often humorous but the comments are the contrary. Well, it’s understandable. Who would be laughing at a car of a person with a working brain enough to park it but not enough to park it properly and legally.
Illegal parking is so common in the streets in the Philippines that it almost feels…normal. From private vehicles double-parked in narrow barangay roads to motorcycles squeezed into bold, staring-you-in-the-eye “No Parking” zones, it’s clear that the rule is not the problem but the attitude.
There’s this habit of pretending it’s harmless and we all know the word. You’re right, it’s pa-simple. Just park where it’s not allowed, keep the engine running, and act like it’s no big deal.
“Saglit lang.”
“Wala namang traffic enforcer.”
“Hindi naman nakaharang.”
That kind of thinking is exactly the problem. And honestly, there’s nothing simple about pa-simple because the repercussions are real.
In Antipolo, a motorcycle was found parked in the middle of the road, posing a significant hazard to other motorists. The Land Transportation Office had to summon the owner to address the violation.
Over on Marcos Highway, a car crashed into a truck illegally parked without hazard lights. One person died, and four others were hurt. Authorities held both the reckless driver and the truck owner accountable—proof that thoughtless parking can cost lives.
Back in 2022, Caloocan authorities discovered that some individuals had painted sidewalks to mimic legal parking slots, complete with tire stoppers and markings for motorcycles. These makeshift spots were promptly cleared by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), highlighting the lengths some go to circumvent parking regulations.
In Barangay Merville, Parañaque, things got so bad with double-parked cars and jeepneys that a full-on clearing operation had to be done just to reopen the West Service Road. Dozens of vehicles were towed—because some people treated the street like their driveway.
The MMDA has been relentless in conducting clearing operations. But for every vehicle towed, another one appears. Enforcement is inconsistent. Some violators are penalized, others slip by. And that’s part of the problem. It sends the message that rules are optional.
This goes beyond just where we leave our cars. It speaks so much about of how we treat the spaces we all share. Every time we park, we make a choice: do we respect the rules, or break them for our own convenience?
Next time you’re about to park somewhere sketchy, think: What if everyone did this? Would cars still move? Would ambulances get through? Would people still feel safe walking around?
Change won’t happen in a snap but it can start with you. Enough with the excuses. Our roads, and everyone who uses them, deserve better.
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