Is it really illegal to block a driveway in the Philippines?

You all know the answer but it pays to know the actual law.

Having to deal with a blocked driveway can really be frustrating – especially if you have places to go to and you’re pressed with time. You might see people here in the Philippines deal with this matter by putting up a sign that says “DON’T BLOCK THE DRIVEWAY.”

Despite all the signs put up, it seems like people are still finding a sort of excuse to park their cars in other driveways. This then raises the question, “Is it illegal to block a driveway in the Philippines?”

No parking sign

There is no law that prohibits homeowners from putting no parking signs

1. Is it illegal to block a driveway in the Philippines? Yes, and here’s why

Vehicles that are obstructing the sidewalks and driveways are clear violations under the Republic Act No. 4136. The Act is strictly observed in Metro Manila considering how crowded the area is.

In fact, this is one of the many reasons why heavy traffic is rampant in Metro Manila. You will see cars double-parked, some are parked on basketball courts, and some obstructions are caused by illegal vendors manning an area.

With that being said, the MMDA conducted a clearing operation all over Metro Manila led by MMDA traffic operations chief Bong Nebrija.

What the operation does is it towed unattended vehicles that were blocking driveways and fine violators. According to government data, 6,899 roads all over the Philippines were cleared of obstructions and illegal structures in 2019.

To have a better understanding of this blatant matter, let’s look at what the Republic Act No. 4136 has to say and what are the corresponding fines and penalties for the violators.

towed vehicle

Follow the law, otherwise, your car will be towed

2. REPUBLIC ACT NO. 4136 for illegal block a driveway in the Philippines

This policy is basically what you need to know in order to be informed of what is legal and illegal regarding driveways in the Philippines. The Republic Act No. 4136 is an act that compiles the laws relative to land transportation and traffic rules.

SECTION 46. Parking Prohibited in Specified Places. – No driver shall park a vehicle, or permit it to stand, whether attended or unattended, upon a highway in any of the following places:

Within an intersection
On a crosswalk
Within six meters of the intersection of curb lines.
Within four meters of the driveway entrance to and fire station.
Within four meters of a fire hydrant
In front of a private driveway.
On the roadway side of any vehicle stopped or parked at the curb or edge of the highway.
At any place where official signs have been erected prohibiting parking.

In addition, the Act also states that no person shall drive or park a motor vehicle upon or along any sidewalk, path, or alley not intended for vehicular traffic or parking.

3. Block a driveway in the Philippines: Fines and Penalties

Here are the corresponding fines in blocking a driveway as per MMDA:

Violation	Fine
Illegal Parking (Attended Vehicles)	From Php 200 to Php 1,000
Illegal Parking (Unattended Vehicles)	From Php 500 to Php 2,000
Obstruction	From Php 150 to Php 1,000

Pickup truck getting towed

It is recommended to get yourself a parking space to avoid getting towed by the MMDA | via Moneymax

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Rex Sanchez

Author

Rex Sanchez grew up in Saudi Arabia where he saw and got into the automotive scene. He started his career for an aviation company in the said region, writing about turbines and rotors which are later distributed for educational purposes. And now, he joined Philkotse.com as a staff writer. Currently, he is the youngest on the team and is more than ready to grow in the field.

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