MMDA to revive traffic ticketing scheme

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is now asking local chief executives of Metro Manila to consider passing a Metro Mayors Council (MMC) resolution that will revive the use of the Metro Traffic Ticketing (MTT) system.

After the scheme was declared illegal because it was implemented without an enabling measure, the MMDA was forced to drop the scheme early this year, paving the way for the return of Traffic Violation Receipts (TVRs).

But believing that the MTT worked and served its purpose of making it easier for erring motorists to pay fines and penalties through Metrobank branches anywhere in the country, MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando is now re-introducing the idea of adopting a unified traffic violation ticketing system.

And to show that the agency is not after money and only wants to make things easier for everyone, he offered that all collected fines and penalties will go to the local government unit (LGU) where the citation ticket was issued.

Fernando said all that the MMDA would ask for is a mere P30 share for every MTT issued to cover printing costs.

The MMDA chairman presented his proposal before the MMC during their regular monthly session at the MMDA office in Makati City.

"The MMDA will promptly remit all revenues accruing to the LGUs after deducting the administrative costs pertaining to each traffic citation," a draft of a proposed resolution read.

Fernando informally introduced the idea of reviving the MTT by offering respective LGUs all revenues last February after the Makati City Regional Trial Court tagged it as illegal along with the No Contact Traffic Apprehension Program.

The court explained that the MMDA cannot just implement projects or programs without asking the MMC to pass a resolution authorizing the same.

Now that the entire idea of the MTT has been formally introduced in an effort to secure a resolution, Fernando hopes that Metro Manila’s mayors will see the good points and will consider reviving it.