By DIANN IVY CALUCIN
The Quezon City government announced on Saturday, Sept. 24, that traffic enforcers in the city will stop confiscating the licenses of drivers who violate traffic rules.
This is in compliance with the memorandum issued by Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin "Benhur" Abalos Jr. to local government officials last Sept. 14.
The memorandum reiterated the DILG-Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) Joint Memorandum Circular 1-2008, dated September 10, 2008, that states: local government units (LGUs) can issue traffic citation tickets or ordinance violation receipts (OVRs) but only the members of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and its deputized agents can confiscate the driver's licenses.
Abalos also directed the LGUs to review their ordinances, orders, and local policies to secure conformity and compliance with the provision of the memorandum circular.
Meanwhile, the Quezon City Council and QC-Transport and Traffic Management Department (TTMD) are examining the city's ordinances and policies related to traffic law enforcement, particularly the issuance of OVRs and confiscation of licenses.
The city government said that it will immediately issue a new ordinance in response to the DILG memorandum.
In a statement on Thursday, Sept. 22, the LTO lauded the DILG's move ordering the LGUs and their corresponding police forces to desist from confiscating the driver's license of motorists who are caught violating traffic rules.
It said the memorandum is in accordance with the decision of the Supreme Court based on provisions under Republic Act No. 10930 or the act rationalizing and strengthening the policy on driver's license.
The LTO added that the step taken by the DILG opens an opportunity for it to coordinate with the LGUs regarding the safety and discipline of the motorists.