Manny Palmero
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has started distributing to local government units the initial batch of hand-held devices to be used for the implementation of the single ticketing system (STS).
MMDA chairman Romando Artes said the initial issuance of the ticketing gadgets have already been delivered and customized for use by five local government units (LGUs), namely the cities of San Juan, Quezon, Valenzuela, Parañaque, and Caloocan.
“There will be a soft launch on the first or second week of July. We will also invite the supplier as we want to address the possible flaws or glitches in the implementation of the STS,” Artes said during a press briefing at the MMDA head office in Pasig City on Thursday.
The machines could print citation tickets, validate and authenticate driver’s licenses and vehicle registrations, check if the driver has incurred demerit points or if his/her license or the vehicle registration is suspended, canceled, or has an existing alarm, accept cashless payments of fines, among others.
This development on the STS was one of the topics discussed during the Metro Manila Council (MMC) meeting, also on Thursday. The MMC, composed of the 17 NCR mayor, is the governing board and policy-making body of the MMDA.
Present during the meeting were San Juan Mayor and MMC president Francis Zamora, Pasay Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano, and Malabon Mayor Jeannie Sandoval.
Artes said the MMDA asked the supplier to equip the device with dual SIMs to avoid poor signal reception. He added that the agency will train the local traffic enforcers this month.
“The training is scheduled on June 27. We want them to get familiar with the proper use of the handheld ticketing devices,” Artes said.
The STS enables interconnectivity among government agencies involved in traffic management through a single system of fines and penalties.
It also aimed to help cut red tape, limit opportunities for corruption, and eradicate forms of negotiations between the motorist and the apprehending officer.
Seven LGUs in Metro Manila have participated in the pilot implementation of the single ticketing system last month. They were cities of Manila, Parañaque, Caloocan, Quezon, San Juan, Muntinlupa, and Valenzuela.
Local traffic enforcers have already been trained on how to enforce the Metro Manila Traffic Code of 2023 serving as guidelines for the new system, which “may also be implemented nationwide, if successful.”
The MMDA had signed agreements with the Land Transportation Office for the interconnectivity of local government units in Metro Manila with the agency’s Land Transportation Management System (LTMS).
Artes said the signing of the memorandum and data sharing was a historic legislation in the MMC since it took 28 years before being fully realized.
