Single-ticket system to start tomorrow - MMDA

MANILA, Philippines - Barring any hitches, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the 17 local government units (LGUs) of Metro Manila will start issuing tomorrow the Uniform Ordinance Violation Receipt (UOVR) tickets for traffic violations across the metropolis.

Spokesperson Ma. Lualhati Dorotan said yesterday the MMDA is just waiting for the delivery of the UOVR tickets from the National Printing Office.

Dorotan said each LGU will initially get 500 UOVR tickets. She said the new traffic violation tickets, which will bear the logos of the MMDA and the 17 Metro Manila LGUs, are designed to be tamper-proof and will have several security features to prevent forgery.

“Our traffic constables as well as the traffic enforcers of the various LGUs were already trained in the detection of fake UOVRs,” Dorotan said.

With the use of the UOVR, a motorist who gets apprehended for a traffic violation and gets his driver’s license confiscated can use the single traffic violation ticket as a temporary license. Should the motorist be flagged down in another city, he will no longer be issued another traffic violation ticket for driving without a license upon presenting his UOVR.

Dorotan, however, added that the UOVR is valid only for a single common offense. Should a motorist be issued an UOVR in one city for speeding, he could be issued another UOVR for beating the red light in another city.

At present, a motorist can pay the penalty and redeem his license at the traffic office in the city where he was apprehended.

“We are still working on the inter-connectivity of settling the fines. Our concern now is to implement this single ticketing system,” said Dorotan.

According to Dorotan, the UOVR is also recognized by traffic enforcers of the Land Transportation Office.

Last month, the 17 mayors of Metro Manila – who compose the Metro Manila Council – approved a resolution for the adoption of a uniform or single ticketing system for traffic violations across Metro Manila. The MMC is the policy-making arm of the MMDA.

MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino said the resolution was approved with support from the various transport groups.

“Without the single ticketing system, each Metro Manila local government unit and the MMDA use their respective traffic violation tickets within their jurisdictions. This runs counter to the 1995 MMDA Charter, mandating the MMDA to install and administer a single ticketing system,” said Tolentino.

As part of the single-ticketing system, traffic violation fines and penalties imposed across the metropolis will also be consolidated.

“The uniform ticket would be issued by all traffic operatives within Metro Manila and shall be recognized metro-wide,” Tolentino said. “I am optimistic that proposals and concerns from our stakeholders will be considered, for the effective implementation of the single ticketing system.”