MMDA wants over 1,000 drivers suspended, stripped of licenses

MMDA General Manager Jojo Garcia (second from left) submits to LTO Field Enforcement Division Chief Roberto Valera documents on 100 bus drivers, who are habitual traffic violators, on Tuesday, November 5, 2019, at the MMDA office in Makati City. Witnessing the turnover of documents is MMDA spokesperson Celine Pialago (left) and PNP-HPG NCR Traffic Enforcement Unit Col. Manny Tabuena. /Consuelo Marquez, INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Tuesday turned over an initial list of 100 public bus drivers with at least 100 traffic violations each to the Land Transportation Office (LTO).

MMDA’s gesture is part of its initiative to hold accountable and remove chronic traffic violators to instill order on the road and address the worsening traffic situation in the National Capital Region.

MMDA General Manager Jojo Garcia vowed to coordinate with LTO, which they expect to thoroughly review their database of over 1,000 drivers – with some incurring more than 500 traffic violations each – and take action against these offending drivers of public utility vehicles. He said MMDA will also coordinate with the Department of Transportation.

“So what we did, pinakuha ko sa database lahat ng may huli ng 2019 kasi 2018 down wala na, so kumbaga, tapos na, hindi na gagamitin,” MMDA General Manager Jojo Garcia said in a press conference at the MMDA Headquarters, Makati City.

(So what we did, I had the database on all those apprehended in 2019 retrieved because for 2018 down, it’s no more, so in a sense, it’s over, it can no longer be used.)

“‘Yung 2019, starting today, we will submit to LTO our data for them to study and promise us na magkakaroon ng action, definitely, masususpinde ‘yung drivers,” he added.

(For 2019, starting today, we will submit to LTO our data for them to study and promise us that there will be action, definitely, drivers will be suspended.)

According to Garcia, drivers usually violate common traffic rules such as disregarding traffic signs and loading and unloading areas, as well as breaching the yellow lane policy.

Asked if they will revoke the driver’s license of traffic violators, LTO Field Enforcement Division Chief Roberto Valera said they will still observe due process prior to making any decision.

“Show cause order ang driver’s license may privilege noh so magtatanong kami bakit ganun karami [‘yung violations]. ‘Yung show cause order we will decide kung it will be for revocation or suspension,” Valera said at the press briefing.

(Show cause order because a driver’s license is a privilege, so we’ll ask first why that many violations. Then we will decide if it will be for revocation or suspension.)

Valera also said they need time before they could take appropriate actions against the traffic violators, but noted they intend to conclude their investigations before Christmas this year.

The Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) said they will go after errant bus drivers included in the list provided by the LTO.

“Automatic po yan huhulihin natin yan sa kalsada [We will apprehend them at the road]. We will help the LTO para po hindi na makapag-drive itong mga suspended drivers sa ating lansangan [so that these suspended drivers won’t drive our roads.],” PNP-HPG National Capital Region Traffic Enforcement Unit Lt. Col. Manny Tabuena said during the press conference.

Under the Land Transportation and Traffic Code of the Philippines, a driver who committed at least three times of the same traffic violations during a 12-month period may face automatic suspension of their driver’s license at least one to two years. Consuelo Marquez, INQUIRER.net /kga