MANILA, Philippines?Time to pay up. Starting July 15, drivers with unpaid traffic fines will be barred from renewing the registration of their vehicles unless they settle their dues first.

With the implementation of an interconnectivity program, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) can now exchange information with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) about drivers with outstanding traffic fines.

The tie-up between the two agencies was launched last year to improve their revenue collection which is a major source of income for the government.

Through the MMDA-Integrated Law Enforcement System, the MMDA can hook up with the online system of the Department of Transportation and Communication and LTO.

MMDA chairman Bayani Fernando said that through the Internet-based program, their personnel can easily upload the license plates of vehicles owned by delinquent drivers for the LTO?s reference.

?When the driver has unsettled [fines] with the MMDA, he cannot renew his motor vehicle registration with the LTO. He has to go to us, pay his traffic fines and then, that will only be the time that we will remove him from our alarm list,? he explained.

Previously, the MMDA only reported the names of drivers with outstanding fines to the LTO to prevent them from renewing their driving licenses.

Fernando stressed that the new system would prevent operators of public utility vehicles, particularly buses, from renewing their vehicle registration unless their drivers immediately settle their overdue traffic fines with the MMDA.