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By James Konstantin Galvez, Reporter
THE Metro Manila Council (MMC)
agreed on Monday to block the implementation of the single ticketing
system for traffic violations, officially known as the Metro Manila
Traffic Ticketing (MTT), despite the
directive of President Gloria
Arroyo on the matter, and the threat from Metro Manila Development
Authority Chairman Bayani Fernando that local officials who do not
implement the scheme can be suspended.
The MMC is composed of the mayors
from the 17 localities in Metro Manila.
In a dialogue between the MMC and
various transport groups held at the Mandaluyong city hall on
Monday, the mayors opposing the MTT maintained their stand to junk
the scheme, saying that the MMDA Law does not supersede the Local
Government Code.
Mayor Benhur Abalos of
Mandaluyong explained to the transport groups that Executive Order
712 issued by the President is nothing but a review of the existing
ordinances of various local governments (LGUs) on the implementation
of their respective Ordinance Violation Receipt (OVR), which is
issued to traffic law violators.
“The present OVR being used by
the LGUs in the exercise of their functions mandated under the Local
Government Code, shall remain in full force and effect in their
respective jurisdiction and shall not be deemed invalidated by this
Resolution,” said Abalos.
In an interview, Mayor Jejomar
Binay of Makati stressed that there is no more chance for a
single-ticketing system in Metro Manila, saying the MMDA has “no
legislative power.”
But Binay said that the MMC will
discuss the possibility of lowering the fines imposed on traffic law
violators.
Fernando threatens mayors with
suspension
Last week, Fernando said that
said the MTT would be in place in Metro Manila within 15 days
despite continuing objections from some localities in the
metropolis.
Fernando earlier said that those
who will continue to defy the implementation of the scheme might
face administrative charges, or worse, be suspended by the
Department of the Interior and Local Government.
Fernando also said that he will
discuss with the mayors the legality and viability of Executive
Order 712 in a meeting scheduled for March 28.
“We in the MMDA hope that
through this dialogue we will finally be able to convince those who
remained opposed to the scheme,” Fernando said.
He said that the authority of the
MMDA to enforce the scheme is provided for in Republic Act 7924 (The
law creating the MMDA), particularly Section 5 which states that the
agency shall have the authority to “install and administer a
single ticketing system, fix, impose and collect fines and penalties
for all kinds of violations of traffic rules and regulations,
whether moving or non-moving in nature, and confiscate and suspend
or revoke driver’s licenses in the enforcement of such traffic
laws and regulations.”
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