LGUs to appeal SC ruling stripping them of traffic ticketing power

MMDA operatives apprehend motorists who are not supposed to use the Edsa Carousel Bus Lane (File photo dated November 13, 2023)

MANILA, Philippines — Three Metro Manila local government units (LGUs) will file a motion for reconsideration (MR) before the Supreme Court following a decision invalidating LGUs’ authority to issue traffic violation tickets to erring motorists.

In a press conference on Tuesday after a meeting with Metro Manila mayors, MMDA Acting Chair Don Artes told reporters that LGUs of Makati, Manila, and Mandaluyong will file the appeal.

“The MMDA will not file an MR. Meanwhile, the LGUs will decide whether or not they will file an MR, but the majority of them will,” Artes said.

“We are trying to make an inventory of all [metro LGUs] who will be filing (the MR). (But) earlier, three already confirmed that they will definitely file – Makati, Manila, Mandaluyong […] Many of them said that they would file (an MR). (But) those three are already sure,” the MMDA chief explained.

In the meantime, while the local governments have yet to file the motion, the MMDA and the Metro Manila Council said that they are preparing to comply with the High Tribunal’s decision by consolidating traffic regulations in Metro Manila under the Metro Manila Traffic Code.

Artes previously explained the traffic code includes 20 common traffic violations.

Implementing such regulations and other traffic rules was left to the discretion of the LGUs since they have their own “peculiar circumstances” regarding traffic.

“We believe that we (mayors) would have to talk about which other violations should be added so that one code would be applicable to everyone,” Muntinlupa City Mayor Ruffy Biazon, who was also in the meeting, said.

The MMDA Chair reiterated that since the Court’s decision is not yet final and executory, the status quo traffic regulations remain in the National Capital Region.

As part of their compliance with the ruling, the MMDA also agreed to give local traffic enforcers provisional authority to issue traffic violation receipts.