Starting at 8am on Oct 13, the Bureau of Customs will clear 16th Street in South Harbor, Port Area, Manila from illegally parked trucks and other vehicles.
Under OPLAN TF 16th Street, the clearing operation will affect the entire stretch of 16th Street from Gate III Port Area up to Bonifacio Drive, Customs Commissioner Alberto Lina said in a letter to stakeholders dated Oct 6.
The operation is part of the bureau’s commitment to provide traders and the transacting public with “safe, secure and easy access” to the Manila port, Lina said.
“In view thereof, stakeholders of BOC are advised to refrain from parking all types of vehicles along the subject area,” he added.
In text messages to PortCalls on Oct 13, BOC Enforcement Group deputy commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno said his group, which is in charge of the project, is working closely with the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), City of Manila, Philippine National Police-Western Police District, Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), and barangay officials in the area.
On the first day of clearing operations, Nepomuceno said there were no problems encountered, noting there had been initial discussions and pilot implementation prior to the official launch of the project.
He added that aside from clearing 16th Street from obstructions, repainting and minor street repairs will be done.
Street lights will be provided by the Manila city government; CCTVs have also been requested from MMDA, he said.
Asked if there are plans to implement the same project in other areas, Nepomuceno said there are no “grand plan yet but hopefully, if this is successful, we can do the same for other areas.” – Roumina Pablo
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