MANILA, Philippines – The guidelines for the implementation of a single ticketing system in the National Capital Region are being finalized, which will standardize the fines and fees for the covered traffic violations, integrate Metro Manila cities’ systems with that of the Land Transportation Office’s (LTO), and allow digital payments.
According to San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora, who is also the president of the Metro Manila Council (MMC), all 17 Metro Manila mayors have agreed to this uniform ticketing system for traffic violations, and are looking at the first quarter of 2023 for its implementation.
Here are some of the guidelines to be observed under the single ticketing system:
- It will cover 20 standard traffic violations which are typically committed by motorists.
- Only LTO enforcers will be allowed to confiscate a driver’s license.
- The LTO system will have access to Metro Manila cities’ systems, which will allow the LTO to easily monitor, record and tally traffic violations.
- Ten demerit points will result to the confiscation of a driver’s license.
“Ang pinakamalaking ginhawa talaga diyan ay hindi niyo na kailangang bumalik doon sa LGU kung saan kayo nahuli para magbayad sapagkat, una, hindi naman kukumpiskahin ang inyong lisensya. Pangalawa, pwede kayong magbayad sa pamamagitan ng digital payments,” Zamora explained.
[Translation: The biggest convenience this system offers is that you don’t have to go back to the LGU where you were apprehended to pay because, first, your license will not be confiscated. Second, you can pay your fines digitally.]
“At huwag nating iisipin na dahil lang hindi na-confiscate ang lisensya ay pwede nang hindi magbayad. Sapagkat iyong panahon na hindi ka nagbabayad, palaki nang palaki ang multa na dapat mong bayaran,” the mayor reminded.
[Translation: And let’s not think that just because the license was not confiscated means you no longer have to pay. The longer you neglect to pay, the bigger your fine gets.]
Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) spokesperson Atty. Melissa Carunungan explained that every violation has a corresponding number of demerit points (eg. disregarding traffic sign = 1 demerit point, driving without a license = 5 demerit points). These demerits will reflect in the LTO’s system and will affect their license’s period of validity.
“Dahil po sa interconnection sa LTO, kapag nakita ng traffic enforcer na nakakuha ka na ng 10 demerit points, authorized sila mag-confiscate ng lisensya,” Carunungan noted.
[Translation: Because of the interconnection with the LTO, when a traffic enforcer sees that you already have 10 demerit points, they are now authorized to confiscate the driver’s license.]
LTO Chief Assistant Secretary Jay Art Tugade also assured that the agency will strictly implement the demerit point system for the planned standardization once the guidelines have been finalized.