MMDA implements 'no-bribery' policy

source: mb.com.ph

MANILA, Philippines -- The Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said Sunday that it will also implement the “no-bribery” policy for the traffic enforcers.

MMDA traffic czar lawyer Yves Gonzales said that the MMDA will monitor its traffic enforcers to prevent them from taking bribes.

“Hindi po ako tumatanggap, kaya walang masasabi ang mga bus operator, para hindi sila sumunod sa mga hakbang ipinatutupad ng MMDA,” Gonzales said.

Gonzales also said that the MMDA might expand the tagging program by including other PUVs such as provincial buses, AUVs (Asian utility vehicles), school shuttle services, taxis and cargo trucks.

Public utility buses that have not yet complied with the MMDA vehicle tagging system will soon be apprehended by the agency’s traffic enforcers as the scheme takes effect Monday.

At the weekly Tinapayan sa Dapitan forum, Gonzales said they would not think twice in issuing violation tickets to erring bus drivers since they had given its operators a four-month leeway to comply with the said reimplementation of the said MMDA traffic scheme.

“Apat na buwan ng palugit ang ibinigay nila sa mga bus operators para lagyan ng mga ‘tagged’ na nakasulat ang plaka ng bus sa bubong , tagiliran at unahan ng mga bus,” he said. “Simula bukas, kapag hindi pa sila nakasunod, titiketan na po sila ng ating mga traffic enforcer.”

Gonzales explained that the Metro Manila Council has approved on February the re-implementation of a previous resolution authorizing the agency to implement the vehicle tagging on all registered and franchised public utility vehicles plying major and secondary roads in Metro Manila.

MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino will also lead traffic enforcers Monday in flagging down city buses without the required “tags” or license numbers painted on the front, sides and roof along Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City.

Tolentino said around 1,000 traffic personnel will enforce the campaign in front on the Techno-Hub on Com-monwealth Avenue, Quezon City starting at 5 a.m. “Wala na po silang dahilan para hindi mag-comply dahil sa sapat na po ang oras na binigay natin sa kanila.”

The Metro Manila Council is the MMDA’s policy-making body composed of the 17 mayors.

The vehicle tagging scheme aims to track down “colorum” and out-of-line PUVs and improve the agency’s traffic monitoring and surveillance operations, according Gonzales.


source: mb.com.ph