Quezon City residents flocked to a vibrant, vehicle-free Tomas Morato Avenue last Sunday for the launch of the “Car-Free, Carefree Tomas Morato” initiative, a program born from a recently enacted city ordinance designed to reclaim public spaces and promote healthier, more sustainable urban living.
Ordinance No. SP-3345, S-2024, approved by the Quezon City Council in September and by Mayor Ma. Josefina G. Belmonte in December 2024, mandates the temporary closure of a portion of Tomas Morato Avenue—from Scout Rallos to Don A. Roces Avenue—to vehicular traffic every Sunday from 6:00 AM to 10:00 AM.
The inaugural event, organized by the City Budget Department, transformed the avenue into a hub of activity. QCitizens of all ages participated in Zumba sessions, cycling, running, skating, and various outdoor games. Families, including their “fur babies,” enjoyed jogging and bonding in the safe, open space, fulfilling the ordinance’s goals of fostering community engagement, health, and social interaction.
A Phased Implementation for a Permanent Change
The ordinance establishes a careful, two-phase rollout. The first phase, spanning one year after the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) are approved, will see the road closure only on the first Sunday of each month. A Technical Working Group (TWG) will monitor impacts on traffic, businesses, and the environment.
Following this initial period, the second phase will expand the closure to every other Sunday. Based on the TWG’s assessment and recommendations, the city council will then decide on proceeding to full weekly implementation.
Exemptions and Oversight
Essential services are exempt from the closure. Fire trucks, ambulances, police vehicles, and delivery trucks for establishments within the area will still be permitted access during the Sunday morning window.
The TWG, led by the Business Permits and Licensing Department (BPLD) and including various city departments and a business representative, is tasked with managing the closures, assessing economic and traffic impacts, recommending community programs, and ensuring public awareness.
Rooted in Sustainable Development
The ordinance cites multiple “WHEREAS” clauses linking the program to broader city goals. It aims to increase public space, promote walkability and cycling, enhance foot traffic for local businesses, and support environmental sustainability by reducing air and noise pollution. The initiative aligns with the Quezon City Comprehensive Land Use Plan and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 11, which focuses on creating inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable cities.
With the immediate success of its first event, the “Car-Free, Carefree Tomas Morato” Sundays are poised to become a new weekly tradition, inviting residents to “meet up on Sundays” for exercise and community fun on a once-congested thoroughfare.#
