Ticketing, yes; confiscation, no

Motorists will still be issued traffic violation tickets in Metro Manila, as needed, as only a moratorium on the confiscation of drivers' licenses had been agreed upon by mayors in the capital region.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority issued this clarification Monday amid the reported confusion generated by the seemingly "conflicting" statements issued on the matter.

"When you violate traffic laws, you must still settle with the corresponding issuing agency," MMDA spokesperson Melissa Carunungan said during a Laging Handa public briefing.

"Right now there is a moratorium on license confiscation, but the local government units will list all of those who shall be caught," Carunungan said. The offenders' names shall be forwarded to the Land Transportation Office, she added.

The tickets, naturally, will have to be paid whether to the MMDA or to the local governments, depending on which agency or LGU the traffic enforcers who did the apprehension belong to.

However, when the single-ticketing system is adopted in the first quarter of 2023, it would be the Land Transportation Office that would collect the fines with the proceeds to be remitted to the MMDA or the LGUs.

Demerit system
"Within the single-ticketing system, they can now track all of a driver's violations. Each violation has corresponding demerit points, depending on the traffic violation," Carunungan added.

All the demerits of the drivers will be seen in the LTO system and will affect the validity period of their licenses upon renewal.

"So for instance, if you get caught disregarding a traffic sign, that will cause one demerit point. If you are caught driving without a license, that will result in five demerit points," she explained.

"So because of the internet connection with the LTO, when the traffic enforcer sees that you have already gotten 10 demerit points, they are authorized to confiscate your license," Carunungan said.

Earlier, the Metro Manila Council, the governing and policy-making body of the MMDA, held a meeting with the Department of the Interior and Local Government to discuss the scheme.

"Even if we don't confiscate the license, we will give the names and the violations to the LTO. You will not get a new license, so don't try it!" Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto warned those who would violate traffic regulations in his city.

Sotto issued the warning amid the practice of some drivers declaring they've lost their licenses just so they could not be ticketed.

MMDA acting chairman Romando Artes said that Metro Manila mayors heeded the call of DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos to recognize the authority vested on the LTO as the agency authorized to confiscate licenses.

LTO chief Assistant Secretary Jay Art Tugade has said the office has already laid down the technical requirements for the MMDA and LGUs to tag and record traffic violations and also to issue traffic violation tickets to repeat offenders.