Metro Manila mayors have all decided to stop confiscation of driver’s licenses as part of the Department of Interior and Local Government’s (DILG) plan to execute a single ticketing system for the National Capital Region starting in the first quarter of 2023.
“All 17 (Metro Manila) mayors have agreed for the single ticketing system,” Metro Manila Council (MMC) President and San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora shared via CNN Philippines’ The Source.
“We are still in the process of finalizing the guidelines, that’s why the target implementation will be in the first quarter of 2023,” he added.
Zamora explained that another technical working group meeting by the members of MMC will be done in January to finalize details of the guidelines.
Under the new single ticketing system, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) will be required to record and tally traffic violations that happened in Metro Manila. Only LTO enforcers will be allowed to confiscate driver’s licenses.
Ten demerit points will result in the confiscation of the driver’s license.
“Bawat paglabag, may corresponding demerit points depende sa violation. Ang lahat ng demerits ay makikita sa sistema ng LTO at maaapektuhan ang period of validity ng kanilang lisensya upon renewal,” Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) spokesperson Atty. Melissa Carunungan explained during the Laging Handa briefing on Monday.
“Halimbawa, pag nahuli kayo dahil sa ‘disregarding traffic sign,’ iyan po ay nagdudulot ng isang demerit point. Pag nahuli po kayo na driving without a license, magdudulot iyon ng five demerit points. 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,” she said.
The system will also use a uniform schedule and standardized amount of fees which can be paid through Bayad Centers or banks.
LTO Chief Assistant Secretary Jay Art Tugade said the agency will strictly follow the demerit point system once the guidelines for single ticketing system is approved.
— Ronald Espartinez