SC junks petition vs. MMDA number coding scheme

Voting unanimously, the Supreme Court (SC) has dismissed the petition for injunction filed by bus drivers in 2010 to stop the re-implementation of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority’s traffic scheme on public buses.

In a 28-page decision, the SC said that the petitioners had “failed to present a clear factual foundation to rebut the presumption of validity of the challenged issuances” or the number coding scheme.

The SC said that the issuances were valid in accordance with the MMDA’s power to regulate traffic under Republic Act 7924 and were within the power given to the agency.

According to the court, the number coding scheme was an appropriate response to address the traffic in Manila.

“The arbitrariness, oppressiveness, and unreasonableness of the implementation of the issuances have not been sufficiently shown. The buses driven by petitioners have not been totally banned or prohibited from plying the Metro Manila roads,” it said.

“However, as in private vehicles, the operation of public utility buses in Metro Manila was merely regulated with a view to curb traffic congestion,” it added.

At present, the number coding scheme remains suspended as the MMDA sees no need for its resumption amid the coronavirus pandemic. — BM, GMA News