MMDA imposes stiffer penalties to motorists

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority has made good on its vow to impose stiffer penalties on erring motorists with the revocation of an initial 413 drivers’ licenses. MMDA Chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr. said the licenses were revoked on the basis that the drivers were apprehended three times for traffic violations in a period of one year.

Based on the data of the MMDA-Traffic Operaitons Center, the three consecutive apprehensions were actually made in a period of three months or an average of one month. After the licenses are revoked, the motorists have to wait for one year before they are allowed to apply for a new one at the Land Transportation Office, Abalos said.

Abalos also said that the MMDA is preparing to file a total of 892 cases against the owners of unredeemed drivers’ licenses. The licenses involved have been in the possession of the MMDA since last year.

According to Abalos, most of the unredeemed licenses were either fake or they belong to drivers that have secured new licenses.

The specific penalties for the unredeemed licenses were not disclosed but according to Abalos, they will be seeking the maximum penalty under the law. He added that the owners of the fake licenses will also be charged criminally under Republic Act 4136 or the Land Transportation Law.

Additionally, Abalos announced the deployment of loading and unloading bay managers along the bus and jeepney terminals of the metropolis. Initially, the managers will be deployed at Pasay-Taft, EDSA-Shaw, Robinson’s Galleria and Araneta Center, Cubao.

Eventually, the managers will be deployed in all of the terminals along the major thoroughfares.