After months of planning and initial run, the long-awaited single ticketing system (STS) was launched in San Juan City on Wednesday, Nov. 15.
(Photo by Patrick Garcia)
San Juan City Mayor and Metro Manila Council (MMC) President Francis Zamora led the official launch of the revolutionary program, which aims at streamlining the traffic violations and fines of the 16 cities and lone municipality comprising the National Capital Region (NCR).
The program also allows violators to pay their fines using e-wallets and other digital payment platforms on the spot, preventing the need for them to proceed to the city hall to pay for their violation.
Zamora was joined by Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Romando Artes, Land Transportation Office (LTO) Regional Director Atty. Noreen San Luis-Lutey, Landbank DECS Department Manager Zenaida Rodenas, GCash Public Sector and NCR Lead Rose Abarquez, Maya Key Accounts Specialist Norika Pineda, RBS Software Solutions Managing Director Lemuel Aceron, MMDA AGM for Operations Asec. David Angelo Vargas, MMDA Dir. Milagros Silvestre, Atty. Vic Nuñez, as well as Vice Mayor Angelo Agcaoili, and members of the city council.
“I am happy that we are officially piloting the single ticketing system here in San Juan after the initial run. We were able to fix the glitches encountered so the actual STS implementation will be seamless for enforcers and drivers,” Zamora said.
"Itong single ticketing system ang magsisimula ng pagbabago ng law enforcement sa Pilipinas. The law enforcement is already technologically-abled. Sa parte po ng LTO, gusto naming siguruhin na ligtas ang mga mamamayan dahil pinaigting natin ang law enforcement. Asahan niyo po ang suporta ng LTO at ng DoTr sa single-ticketing system (This single ticketing system is the start of the much awaited change in law enforcement in the Philippines. The law enforcement is already technologically-abled. For LTO's part, we want to ensure that the public is safe by strengthening our law enforcement. Rest assured the LTO and DoTr are in full support of the single-ticketing system," San Luis-Lutey said.
“Ito po ay historic moment dahil after 28 years ay maro-roll out na fully ang single ticketing system. Marami pong nagtangka na i-implement ito. Pero during our term as MMDA chair and Mayor Zamora as MMC president ay naisakatuparan na ito (This is a historic moment because after 28 years, we're finally able to fully rollout the single ticketing system. A lot of officials tried to implement this system, but this only became a reality during our term as MMDA chair and Mayor Zamora as MMC president)," Artes noted.
Zamora said the MMDA turned over 30 handheld devices to San Juan City that will be used to issue violation tickets to drivers who will commit any of the common violations that the LTO and the Metro Manila mayors have agreed upon.
The handheld devices also allow the drivers to pay their fines upfront using online payment channels and credit cards.
Earlier, all the metro mayors signed the Metro Manila Traffic Code of 2023, which defines the common traffic violations and the corresponding standardized penalties.
The violations include:
- Disregarding traffic signs
- Illegal parking (attended and unattended)
- Number coding UVVRP
- Truck ban
- Light truck ban
- Reckless Driving
- Unregistered motor vehicle
- Driving without license
-Tricycle ban
- Obstruction
- Dress code for motorcycle
- Overloading
- Defective motorcycle accessories
- Unauthorized modification
- Arrogance/Discourteous conduct (driver)
- Loading and Unloading in Prohibited Zones
- Illegal counterflow
- Overspeeding
The fines for the violations range from P500 to P5,000 with seminars depending on the violation and level of offense committed.
The city's traffic enforcers and a representative from RBS Software Solutions also conducted a demo on how the STS and its payment formats work from the time violators committed the violation to paying the fines.
(Photo by Patrick Garcia)
“Through the STS, motorists no longer have to go to the city where they were apprehended to pay their fines because the MMDA’s, the LTO’s and the 17 LGU’s traffic system is now linked and integrated into one system. They can easily pay on-the-spot through different payment channels like GCash, Maya, and credit and debit cards. This also prevents corruption and cuts red tape as well as lessen transactions made in the city hall just to pay fines. Motorists are able to save their time, gas money, and effort,” Zamora explained.
A minimal convenience fee of P7 will be charged for every transaction (GCash, Maya, and Landbank) and a 1 percent convenience fee if payment is made through credit or debit cards. For drivers who do not have access to online payments when the offense was made, they can pay through the QR on their ticket at a later time by scanning the QR code which will redirect them to drivers.com.ph where they can pay their dues.
The mayor said the MMDA also provided each metro city with desktop units dedicated to monitoring the data as it comes in real time.
The captured data will generate where most violations happen, the most common violations committed by drivers, even reported accidents and traffic.
"This will come in handy not just in monitoring the traffic violations, but local governments may also use the data in creating ordinances and traffic rules that will help in easing traffic in Metro Manila," the mayor noted.