|
By Jayson Cruz Luna, Contributor
METROPOLITAN Manila Development Authority (MMDA)
Chairman Bayani Fernando warned five local executives who are
opposing Executive Order 712 that they face possible suspension if
they refuse to implement the single traffic ticketing system for
traffic law violators in the metropolis.
“They can be suspended if they don’t follow
the executive order,” Fernando said in Filipino over a radio
interview Thursday morning.
The chairman said the Department of Interior and
Local Government can impose sanctions on the mayors if they do not
follow EO 712, which was signed by President Gloria Arroyo on
Tuesday when a transport strike hit Metro Manila.
Fernando said that in this instance, the power
of the Local Government Code will be tested on the five defiant
mayors.
He explained that EO 712 supersedes local
ordinances approved by local government units and those who do not
follow the order can be sanctioned as provided for in the Local
Government Code.
Five mayors remain defiant
The local chief executives who refuse to
implement MMDA’s single ticketing system are Makati City Mayor
Jejomar Binay, San Juan City Mayor Joseph Victor Ejercito, Navotas
City Mayor Tobias Tiangco, Taguig City Mayor Freddie Tinga and Pasay
City Mayor Wenceslao Trinidad.
Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim earlier opposed the new
scheme but he expressed his support for it on Wednesday.
There are 10 Metro Manila mayors who already
approved the implementation of the ticketing scheme for traffic law
violators, which is called the Metro Traffic Ticketing System.
Metro Manila mayors approve policies and
programs for the metropolis through the Metro Manila Council, the
supreme decision making body of the MMDA.
Binay contends EO 712 cannot supersede a
national law based on the provisions of the Local Government Code,
or Republic Act 7160, which states that local governments have the
sole authority to regulate traffic in their respective
jurisdictions.
He even challenged Malacañang to file charges
against him and other local chief executives who will not implement
the single ticketing system.
The opposing mayors use the Ordinance Violation
Receipts in their localities.
|
