After 28 years of negotiations and discussions, the Metro Manila Council (MMC) has finally approved and will soon implement the single ticketing system of traffic violations in the National Capital Region (NCR).
The approval of the MMC Resolution 2023-2 during a meeting presided by MMC chairperson and San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairperson Romando Artes finally put to an end to multi-traffic rules and regulations by local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila which has been the subject of complaints of motorists over the years.
"This is a big relief to the people, to the motorists because first of all, their driver's license will no longer be confiscated and second, if they committed violations they can already pay the fines and penalties anywhere in the Philippines," said Zamora in yesterday's press briefing after the approval of the resolution.
"We already standardized the fines and penalties. There will no longer be confusion as to the amount of the fines because there is a uniform fines and penalties for each violation," he added.
Zamora said the implementation of the single ticketing system will harmonize the fines and penalties for traffic violations committed in Metro Manila roads.
He said the resolution will be endorsed to the Land Transportation Office and the councils of 17 LGUs in Metro Manila for adoption of the MMC resolution which would pave the way for its implementation.
Zamora said they set March 15 as the deadline for each of the LGUs in Metro Manila to amend their respective ordinances pertaining to the old traffic rules and regulations.
"We have given ourselves 45 days for our respective City Councils to amend the ordinances and I believe this is a realistic timeline," said Zamora.
Based on the agreement, it is the MMDA which will provide the necessary equipment that will be used in the implementation of the Single Ticketing System.
"It is the MMDA which will shoulder the expenses for the ICT (information and technology communication) equipment for the integration. Currently, we are conducting an inventory with the help of the LTO (Land Transportation Office to determine all the necessary ICT equipment needed by each LGUs in order to expedite the integration and implementation," said Artes.
During the initial phase of the discussions, Artes said it was agreed that LGUs would come up with the list of the common violations of motorists that would be covered by the Single Ticketing System.
There are 20 common traffic violations identified, among them are disregarding traffic signs, illegal parking, number coding violation, truck ban, tricycle ban, obstruction, defective. motor vehicle accessories, overloading, and reckless driving.
The 20 most common traffic violation penalties will be imposed uniformly in all Metro Manila local government units and and will be interconnected with the Land Transportation Management System (LTMS) of the Land Transportation Office (LTO).
The MMDA earlier said that they are eyeing the full implementation of the program within the first quarter of 2023.