The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Metro Manila Council (MMC) announced on Monday, Nov. 6, that private motorists who still continue to use the EDSA Bus Carousel lanes will face stiffer penalties starting Nov. 13.
The MMC, headed by San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora, had earlier passed MMDA Regulation No. 23-002, further increasing the prescribed fines for violation of the "Exclusive City Bus Lane/Bus Carousel Lane" regulation along EDSA."
"Despite the constant warning and reminders issued by MMDA that 'Exclusive City Bus Lane/EDSA Bus Carousel Lanes' are for the exclusive use of Public Utility Buses (PUBs), and exempt motor vehicles, it has been observed that many errant drivers of privately owned vehicles, motorcycle riders, and other unauthorized motor vehicles continue to disregard the police," the order read.
"At present, the prescribed fine imposed on drivers of motor vehicles, either publicly or privately owned, for the violation of the 'Exclusive City Bus Lane/Bus Carousel Lane' is One Thousand Pesos (P1,000) for each offense, hence to become an effective deterrent measure, there is a perceived need to increase the fines and penalties of its violation," it added.
The new fines and penalties under the said regulation are as follows:
1st offense - P5,000
2nd offense - P10,000 plus one month suspension of driver's license and a requirement to undergo a road safety seminar
3rd offense - P20,000 plus one year suspension of driver's license
4th offense - P40,000 plus recommendation to the Land Transportation Office (LTO) for revocation of driver's license
MMDA Chairman Romando Artes explained that they will first conduct information campaigns to increase the public's awareness of the new order before its implementation.
In an interview with Manila Bulletin, Zamora stressed the importance of having such countermeasures against bus lane violators.
"Talagang hanggang ngayon nakikita ko rin ang daming nagviviolate pa din and also based on our discussion, yung dating P1,000 fine kasi is masyadong maliit siguro para sa ibang tao na feeling nila siguro, sulit na magbayad sila ng P1,000 at least nakalusot sila sa traffic which defeats the purpose. Kaya nga merong EDSA bus carousel ay para number one, daanan ng mga bus at saka emergency vehicles, disaster response, at saka marked government vehicles (Even until now, I can still see that a lot of private motorists violate and also based on our discussion, the P1,000 fine is too small for other people who think that paying P1,000 is reasonable because at least they have escaped the traffic which defeats the purpose. The reason the EDSA bus carousel is there is number one, for buses, emergency vehicles, disaster response, and marked government vehicles to pass through)," Zamora said.
"Kaya tinaasan ang mga fines dyan ay para maging deterrent at kahit sabihin mong may kaya ka, pero kapag umabot sa punto na napakataas na ng multa mo, plus pwede pa marevoke ang license mo, eh talagang magdadalawang isip ka na (The reason for increasing the fines is for it to become a deterrent wherein even if you say that you have the means to pay it, you will still reach a point where the fine will be very high plus the risk of getting your license revoked)," he added.
The mayor stressed that the regulation not only increases the monetary aspect of the penalties but also the inclusion of community service such as attending a required seminar and the revocation of the violator's license.
"Kung paulit ulit ka nang nagviviolate, then obviously hindi ka na natututo. Obviously, you are disregarding the law (If you keep on violating then obviously you have not learned your lesson. Obviously you are disregarding the law)," the MMC president noted.
"They have to respect the EDSA bus carousel. Let's respect the bus lanes. Kaya nga yan nandyan eh para sa bus and emergency vehicles. Kung di naman tayo bus, hindi naman tayo emergency vehicles, at hindi naman tayo marked government vehicles, let us stay on the regular lanes. If you still choose to violate, then expect that you will pay a lot of money and then you run the risk of your license being revoked by the Land Transportation Office (LTO) (That's the reason why the lane is there: for buses and emergency vehicles. If you are not driving a bus, an emergency vehicle, or a marked government vehicle, then stay on the regular lanes. If you still choose to violate, then expect that you will pay a lot of money and then you run the risk of your license being revoked by the LTO)," he said.