Commonwealth Ave. traffic scheme violators face fines

MANILA, Philippines — Drivers, particularly of public utility vehicles, pedestrians and commuters will be fined if they are caught violating the new traffic policy along Commonwealth Avenue starting today.

Pedestrians and commuters caught jaywalking would be fined P500, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) acting general manager Jose Arturo Garcia said.

Drivers of jeepneys and UV Express vans found to be disregarding traffic signs would be issued traffic violation tickets with a P150 fine, he added.

Yesterday morning, the MMDA’s Special Operations Group (SOG) issued tickets to 48 drivers found to be violating the traffic signs installed along Maharlika and Masaya streets, which were designated as one-way streets starting yesterday to address congestion in the area due to the construction of the Metro Rail Transit Line 7.

Instead of taking a right turn directly to Commonwealth Avenue-Philcoa area from Ellpitical Road, the new route makes drivers turn right to Maharlika street and turn left to Masaya street until they reach Commonwealth Avenue-Philcoa area. They are also supposed to load and unload commuters at the corner of Masaya street and Commonwealth Avenue.

One of the 48 driver-violators had his passenger jeepney towed as he did not carry any driver’s license, said MMDA-SOG supervisor Edison Nebrija.

“Most of them said they did not notice the signs, but we have installed them since last Wednesday,” Nebrija pointed out.

Traffic buildup at the right turn from Elliptical Road to Commonwealth Avenue would be reduced as around 800 PUVs per hour would be diverted to the new route traversing Maharlika and Masaya streets, Garcia said.

MMDA spokesperson Celine Pialago meanwhile said that the traffic rerouting scheme would last until August or may become permanent.