Jaywalk anywhere in Metro Manila and you risk smearing your record with the National Bureau of Investigation—which issues the clearance you need anytime you apply for a job or try to go abroad.
That’s the proposal of the Metro Manila Development Authority, as it wants to get tougher against jaywalkers, who the agency said to cause 54 percent of road accidents in the big city.
MMDA spokesperson Celine Piolago told GMA’s “Unang Balita” program on Friday the agency would discuss its proposal with the Metro Manila Council for possible approval.
“It’s the MMDA’s plan that the jaywalkers we apprehend would have a ‘lamat’ [mark] on their NBI records. Unfortunately, the current penalties don’t seem to be enough [to deter them],” Piolago said.
At present, jaywalkers are slapped with a P500 fine or made to render community service.
It was unclear if the NBI, a separate agency under the Department of Justice, would be amenable to the proposal.
