Mayors OK higher jaywalking fine

MANILA, Philippines - The Metro Manila Council (MMC), which is composed of the mayors of Metro Manila, approved yesterday a recommendation of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to increase the penalty for jaywalking from the present P200 to P500.

The council also approved the recommendation of the MMDA that jaywalkers who could not afford to pay the fine be made instead to help clean any of the Metro’s waterways or esteros for three hours. Previously, jaywalkers who could not pay the fine are made to attend a disaster assistance seminar.

MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino said the new penalties for jaywalking will take effect 15 days after publication in a major newspaper.

Speaking to reporters after the regular MMC meeting held in Makati yesterday, Tolentino said the MMDA proposed the new penalties after noting the increasing number of pedestrians nabbed for jaywalking.

Tolentino said the most number of jaywalkers were recorded in Quezon City, Pasig, Taguig and Pasay. He added that the MMDA would also deputize the local traffic enforcers of these four cities to apprehend jaywalkers.

Records from the MMDA showed that 63,638 pedestrians were issued violation tickets by the MMDA for jaywalking last year while some 10,844 pedestrians have been issued jaywalking tickets since the start of this year.