MMDA: 2 metro cities yet to adopt single-ticketing system

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MANILA, Philippines — Only two of the 17 local government units in the National Capital Region have yet to adopt the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority’s (MMDA) single-ticketing system.

MMDA chairperson Romando Artes confirmed the matter in a radio interview on Thursday after he was asked if the system had already been implemented.

READ: MMDA plans full rollout of single-ticketing system by September

“Opo, enforced na po siya. Dalawa na lang po ang cities ang hindi naka connect sa Land Transportation Office (LTO), pero ine-enforce po ‘yun — ‘yung single ticketing,” said Artes in an interview over Radyo 630.

(Yes, it is enforced. Only two cities are not connected to the LTO, but that is being enforced — the single ticketing.)

According to Artes, the “full” implementation of this initiative in Metro Manila is already at 95 percent.

“Kaya nga sabi ko kahapon nasa 95 percent na na fully implemented itong single ticketing, dahil these LGUs po ay sumusunod na dito sa single ticketing. Ang kulang na lang namin ay may 2 lgus na kino-customize pa ang interconnectivity sa LTO,” he explained.

(That’s why I said yesterday that this single ticketing has been fully implemented at 95 percent because these LGUs are already following this single ticketing. We only lack 2 LGUs who are still customizing the interconnectivity in LTO.)

Under MMDA’s single-ticketing system, violators receive a unified ordinance violation. Under this, the “top 20 most common traffic violations” have the same fines, contesting procedures, and digital payment platforms.

In the same interview, the MMDA official was asked to name the two non-compliant LGUs. Artes, however, declined to name these two, pointing out that “they may be bashed.”

“Hindi ko na po babanggitin at may dalawa na lang po naman. Baka po kasi ma-bash sila [at] sabihin ay mabagal. Pero dalawa na lang po,” he said, noting that the remaining two are coordinating with LTO.

(I won’t mention it, and there are only 2 left. I’m afraid they will get bashed. But there are only two more.)

The single-ticketing system was initially launched in Manila, Parañaque, Caloocan, Quezon City, San Juan, Muntinlupa, Valenzuela and at the MMDA headquarters in Pasig City.

“Kahapon po ay nagpirmahan na rin po ang LTO at bayan ng ang bayan Bacoor. In-adopt na rin po ang single-ticketing system natin at i-interconnect na rin sila sa LTO. Sa akin pong pagkakaalam, iiro-roll out din po ito sa sa iba pa pong mga bayan,” he added.

(Yesterday, the LTO and Bacoor also agreed to sign. Our single-ticketing system has been adopted, and they will be interconnected with the LTO. As far as I know, it will also be rolled out in other towns.)