Metro mayors defer PUV tagging scheme

MANILA, Philippines - The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and its policy-making body, the Metro Manila Council (MMC), approved Thursday a move to defer for 90 days the implementation of a vehicle-tagging scheme for all public utility vehicles (PUVs), except city buses.

MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino said the decision is a result of previous consultations and dialogues with various transport groups on the timeliness and viability of the tagging scheme.

The MMC is composed of all the mayors of Metro Manila. Present in last Thursday’s MMC-MMDA meeting at the Manila Yacht Club were Mayors Sherwin Gatchalian (Valenzuela), Alfredo Lim (Manila), Aldrin San Pedro (Muntinlupa), Florencio Bernabe (Parañaque), Antonino Calixto (Pasay), Enrico Echiverri (Caloocan) and Jaime Medina (Pateros).

According to Tolentino, provincial bus operators formally requested the postponement of the vehicle-tagging scheme, which has been set for implementation on July 25. They said there is a pending proposal in Congress to utilize an electronic identification system for all PUVs, which might conflict with the tagging scheme.

According to the MMDA, the scheme will facilitate easy tracking and identification of traffic violators as license numbers of PUVs will be painted prominently on their roof, making it easy for the MMDA’s closed-circuit television (CCTVs) cameras to identify them.

“By having their license plate numbers on sides and the roof of PUVs, our CCTV cameras have better chances of identifying them when needed,” Tolentino said.