Metro Manila mayors address traffic ticketing problem

MANILA, Philippines - Members of the Metro Mayors Council on Friday approved a resolution to address the problem on traffic citation tickets being issued by various government agencies involved in traffic management. Under the resolution, local government units would continue to implement their respective violation receipts, while the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Land Transportation Office could also issue their own traffic tickets. With the resolution in effect, all existing traffic tickets would be honored by all concerned agencies. The mayors agreed to recognize ordinance violation receipts (OVRs) of local governments and to honor MMDA's traffic enforcement powers over all national roads in Metro Manila, said Mandaluyong City mayor Benhur Abalos. The resolution disregarded Executive Order 712, which ordered the implementation of a single ticketing system as demanded by the transport sector. “Single ticketing system is a matter of how you interpret it. It could be uniform, or it could be different tickets with reciprocity and harmony," Abalos said. MMDA chairman Bayani Fernando welcomed the decision of the mayors although he admitted that not all his expectations in the meeting were met. “I"m happy that this entire thing has been set in motion. It’s going to harmonize everything, so that the complaints or difficulties being faced by the road users can properly address and the administrative aspect of it," Fernando said. Abalos said they have formed a technical working group (TWG) composed of various traffic agencies to come up with a recommendation on other pressing issues within a 30-day period. He said a status quo will be observed during the 30-day period, wherein OVRs to be issued by local government units (LGUs) and MMDA's traffic violation receipts would both be honored. Mayors who attended the meeting were Vergel Aguilar of Las Pinas City, Sigfrido Tinga of Taguig, Wenceslao Trinidad of Pasay, Enrico Echiveri of Caloocan, Tobias Tiangco of Navotas, Joseph Victor Ejercito of San Juan, Quezon City Vice Mayor Herbert Bautista representing the vice mayors league and other representatives of LGUs. Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, who has been very vocal against the EO 712, was not present in the meeting and sent instead Atty. Violeta Seva to represent him. - GMANews.TV