MMDA to hold dry run of roof-tagging scheme

MANILA, Philippines - The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will conduct a weeklong “dry run” of its roof-tagging scheme for public utility vehicles (PUVs) plying routes in Metro Manila on Aug. 15.

MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino said the scheme will need to be evaluated first before it is fully implemented. “After the week-long run through, the agency shall strictly apprehend violators,” he said.

The scheme was designed by the MMDA as part of its drive to weed out colorum or unregistered PUVs in the streets of Metro Manila, particularly along EDSA.

The scheme was originally set for implementation on July 25 but the MMDA deferred its enforcement following a request from provincial bus operators that there is a pending proposal in Congress to utilize an electronic tagging scheme for all PUVs, which might conflict with the roof-tagging scheme.

Under the scheme, the license numbers of a PUV will be painted on its roof, sides and back for easy identification by traffic enforcers and by the closed-circuit television cameras of the MMDA.