MMDA: LTO's no-travel policy un-Christian

MANILA, Philippines — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) asked the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to reconsider its strict enforcement of the "no plate, no travel" policy, which started Wednesday.

MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino on Wednesday called LTO's move possibly unconstitutional considering it deprives an individual of the right to use his own property without due process of law.

Tolentino said they will write a letter to the LTO and convince it to reconsider the implementation of the police which, he said, is not only untimely but also "un-Christian."

For Tolentino, the policy hinders the convenient observance of Holy Week when many motorists are on the road on their way to their various provinces.

"Sana isinaalang-alang muna ng LTO na Semana Santa ngayon at tulungan muna ang ating mga kababayan at ang kanilang mga pamilya makabiyahe papuntang probinsya bago nila ipinatupad ang patakarang ito," Tolentino said in a statement.

Tolentino added that a majority of these motorists cannot be faulted on having bought new cars and are still without license plates. Moreover, the new vehicles have been registered with the LTO and are only awaiting issuance of their license plates.

"They (owners of brand-new vehicles) should not be penalized for not having their license plates on time, they already have their conduction stickers. They are paying their monthly amortizations and have no deliberate intention to violate the law," he said.

"In fact, at this time of the year, we need to freely move people especially now that there is shortage of provincial buses, we must also consider the forthcoming arrival of Super Typhoon Chedeng, we must move people immediately out of harm’s way utilizing safe vehicles," Tolentino added.     

Meanwhile, Tolentino said the MMDA and the 17 local government units of Metro Manila are not inclined to apprehend violators of the LTO order because it is "ill-timed and restricts the timely observance of [a] Filipino religious tradition."