THE single ticketing system will be rolled out today, Tuesday, in seven local government units in the National Capital Region, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority said.
MMDA spokesperson Melissa Carunungan said the system will be pilot tested in Manila, Paranaque, Caloocan, Quezon City, San Juan, Muntinlupa and Valenzuela and the agency itself.
“This will be a big relief to motorists since there will be a single ticketing system for the 20 most common traffic violations,” Carunungan told the Laging Handa public briefing.
“Under the single ticketing system, we will have a uniform penalty or fine, contesting procedures, and digital or online payment platforms such as GCash,” Catunungan added.
She said violators of the single ticketing system will pay a standard amount of fine regardless of where the infraction was committed in the seven LGUs where the system will be pilot-tested, and eventually, the entire metropolis.
The 20 most common traffic violations and their corresponding fines under the Metro Manila Traffic Code are disregarding traffic sign (P1,000 fine), illegal parking, both attended and unattended (P1,000 and P2,000, respectively), violation of number coding (P500), truck ban (P3, 000), reckless driving (P1,000 for the 1st offense, P2,000 for the 2nd offense, and P2,000 and seminar for the 3rd offense), tricycle ban (P500), obstruction (P1,000), dress code for motorcycles (P500 for the 1st offense, P750 for the 2nd offense, and (P1,000 for the 3rd offense), overloading (P1,000), defective motor vehicle accessories (P1,000), unauthorized modification (P2,000, arrogance/discourteous conduct (P500), loading and unloading zone in prohibited zones (P1,000), illegal counterflow (P2,000 for the 1st offense and P5,000 for succeeding offenses) and P1,000 for over-speeding.
MMDA chairperson Romando Artes said the pilot testing of the system is historic because it took 28 years before Metro Manila LGUs agreed to the single-ticketing system. The system was repeatedly pushed by past administrations amid complaints from motorists over varying traffic rules in Metro Manila.
Metro Manila mayors only approved the resolution for its implementation last February 1.
Carunungan said the pilot testing would enable the MMDA and the LGUs to iron out kinks that might arise before it would be fully implemented in all 17 LGUs in the metropolis.
She said the MMDA is focused first on getting every problem addressed during the pilot testing before rolling the system region-wide, or in the entire NCR.
“There are three options for payment of fines. First, you can still pay through the traditional method which is physical payment; second, through digital platforms such as GCash and online banking, and third, our enforcers will be equipped with handheld devices by the third week of May and erring motorists can pay through digital wallet right there and then after they were accosted and the enforcer explained their violation,” Carunungan said.
The MMDA and the LGUs will forward to the Land Transportation Office database, through the Land Transportation Management System (LTMS), the violations committed for tallying.
Carunungan stressed that during the pilot testing, the demerit system in which motorists found to have violated traffic regulations 10 times would have their driver’s license suspended will not be implemented yet.
Carunungan said the single ticketing system would help in weeding out corrupt traffic enforcers, explaining their every move will be monitored by the MMDA command center through their body-worn cameras.
The MMDA earlier acquired an initial 100 body-worn cameras for their enforcers who will enforce the single ticketing system.
The cameras can be used for up to eight hours, enough for one shift of duty, before recharging.
The body camera-equipped traffic enforcers will be initially deployed along Katipunan Avenue and Timog in Quezon City, and Sta. Mesa in Manila.
The MMDA deploys around 900 traffic enforcers per shift in Metro Manila’s roadways.
