If you frequently drive in the southern portion of Metro Manila, particularly in Parañaque, chances are you’re familiar with the traffic congestion in the area. This may no longer be the case with a recent ruling that requires its biggest residential area to grant public access to its roads.
BF Homes has been ordered by the government to keep its five gates open [Image: Alabang Bulletin FB page]
According to a report by the Philippine Star, the Human Settlements Adjudication Commission (HSAC) issued a ruling last July 29, ordering that the five gates of BF Homes subdivision be opened to the public.
This means that the BF Federation of Homeowners’ Associations Inc. or BFFHAI will now be required to allow motorists to freely pass through the subdivision’s gates located along five streets: Aguirre Avenue, Elizalde Street, El Grande Avenue, Concha Cruz Street, and Tropical Street.
Prior to the ruling, non-residents passing through the area were required to either leave their identification cards such as driver's licenses at the gates or pay for a car sticker to allow unobstructed access. Delivery service providers were also required to pay entry fees, which are now also prohibited by the ruling.
Barangay BF Homes Chairman Paolo Marquez says the injunction is merely temporary [Image: Paolo Marquez FB page]
While this will be seen as good news for many of the motorists passing through Parañaque and Las Piñas, BF Homes residents are up in arms over the order.
“By preventing BFFHAI from exercising control over the subdivision gates, HSAC has essentially compromised the security, invited disorder, and chaotic traffic, and violated the private and residential nature of our subdivision,” said BFFHAI Vice President Tito Tolentino.
Officials of BF Homes, the city’s biggest village with over 90,000 residents, have reportedly deployed patrol and reaction teams to beef up security in the wake of the ruling. According to Barangay BF Homes Chairman Paolo Marquez, the teams have been dispatched to “deter potential troublemakers and respond to any untoward incidents.”
Barangay BF Homes has reportedly deployed additional security personnel in the area
Meanwhile, BFFHAI has filed a petition with the Court of Appeals (CA) on August 1 to reverse the ruling. “Please be informed that we already filed our appeal to the CA last Monday with a prayer for [a temporary restraining order], and we hope it will be favorably granted,” said BFFHAI President Arturo Astorga II.
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