MMDA to lower fines for erring PUV drivers until March 25

Until March 25, drivers of public utility vehicles (PUVs) such as passenger jeepneys may get some relief from the lowering of fines by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority. Following a meeting with PUV operators, MMDA chairman Oscar Inocentes announced that the penalty for driving without license went down from P300 to P150. "We understand the sentiments of the drivers, who virtually have to contend with different traffic enforcers and different traffic rules every day," Inocentes said in an article posted on the MMDA website. He noted the PUV drivers’ complaints against the LGUs’ non-compliance with the MMDA’s single ticketing system (STS). But Inocentes said the lower fines will be only until March 25 when the MMDA and the mayors composing the Metro Manila Council (MMC) meet to discuss the STS. Ordinance Violation Receipt During a dialogue with transport groups last Tuesday, MMDA assistant general manager for operations (AGM) Emmanuel De Castro brought up the idea of lowering the fine for the offense of driving without license for PUV drivers. Ed Martin, president of the jeepney organization Pasang-Masda, had asked MMDA general manager Roberto Nacianceno if it is possible for the agency to go easy in apprehending PUV drivers while the MMDA and the MMC are ironing out its agreement over the single ticketing issue. Martin complained that it is not fair that MMDA traffic enforcers will charge PUV drivers with driving without license while their driver’s licenses have been previously confiscated by LGU traffic enforcers. As a matter of policy, the MMDA does not honor the Ordinance Violation Receipt (OVR) issued by the LGUs. "You cannot use the OVR as temporary license that is why we are charging you with Driving without License," De Castro told the transport operators. The MMDA has not been confiscating the drivers’ licenses of apprehended motorists except for serious administrative violations such as colorum and out-of-line operations. Value of discipline For his part, Nacianceno appealed to the transport operators to instill the value of discipline to their drivers. He said the drivers should also do their part not only to help keep traffic flowing but also for their own convenience. "We can complain and complain. But what we need to do is to improve in our discipline. We can avoid numerous traffic citations if we only comply religiously with traffic laws," he said. Meanwhile, to keep the PUV drivers away from abusive traffic enforcers, Nacianceno said the MMDA has come up with the No Physical Contact Policy (NPCP) in catching traffic violators, which no longer necessitates the physical apprehension of the offending motorist. He added the MMDA has also purchased 500 digital cameras for its On-Cam Apprehension (OCA). Under this scheme, traffic enforcers will just have to take photographs of motorists while in the act of committing a traffic infraction. Nacianceno called on the transport operators to attend the next MMC meeting in March 26 so they could air their grievances against the LGUs concerning the issue on STS. He said the mayors have agreed in principle to use only one traffic citation ticket, which is the MMDA’s traffic violation receipt. - RSJ, GMANews.TV