MMDA Goes Easy on Minor Traffic Violations for the Holiday Season
But that's no excuse to drive recklessly.
(SPOT.ph) The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is giving motorists an early holiday gift: Fewer tickets for minor traffic violations starting November 18 until December 25.
As the annual holiday rush kicks in, MMDA Chairman Don Artes said traffic enforcers are instructed to focus more on keeping traffic moving, particularly around shopping malls and other busy areas like EDSA, rather than handing out citations for offenses like swerving. This initiative aims to reduce congestion as Christmas shopping picks up.
Don’t get too comfortable though—the MMDA will still assess each case individually, so don’t go thinking you’ll get away with more serious violations.
“Magiging priority ng ating enforcers ay traffic management. ‘Yung mga minor offense, sita, then wala ng ticket pero case-to-case basis ‘yan as usual. Depende sa violation,” Artes said in a recent press conference.
There are approximately 421,000 cars traversing EDSA every day based on the MMDA’s latest count in September.
Also read: What's Happening With the MMDA's Single Ticketing System?
MMDA prepares for the holiday rush
In addition to being more lenient, the MMDA is rolling out other measures to help manage the chaos: extended mall hours, a temporary halt on roadworks, and a shift extension for traffic enforcers who will now be on duty until midnight to help manage the flow of vehicles til late.
However, Artes said this temporary halt on roadworks under Memorandum Circular No. 14 Series of 2024 excludes emergency repairs and other priority projects of Malacañang.
The MMDA is also looking to collaborate with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to extend the operating hours of the LRT, MRT, and EDSA Carousel to lessen the number of private vehicles on the road.
“Para aligned tayo. Para ‘yung magse-stay ng mas mahaba sa malls, pag-uwi nila ay may masasakyan pa rin sila na pampublikong transportasyon,” Artes said.
Also read: Settle Ticket Fines and More at MMDA's New Office at This QC Mall