MMDA wants 400% increase for illegal parking penalty

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is proposing to increase illegal parking fines by 400 percent in order to address worsening traffic conditions, as six bridges in the metropolis are under repair.

MMDA supervising operations officer Bong Nebrija said they met with Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista, as well as with representatives of the Highway Patrol Group (HPG) and traffic management heads of local government units in Metro Manila, with regards to the issue.

Nebrija said that those who attended the meeting have agreed in principle to raise the fine for attended illegally parked vehicles from P200 to P1,000 — a 400 percent increase.

Moreover, he said that they have also agreed in principle to increase the fine by 300 percent for unattended illegally parked vehicles, from the current fine of P500 to P2,000.

A lesson learned the hard way

Nebrija said the officials believed that higher fines will teach traffic violators a lesson and at the same time reduce traffic caused by bridge repairs.

He clarified, however, that the proposal to increase the fine is not yet final. He said that they still need to draw up a resolution signed by Metro Manila mayors and go through a series of public consultations.

Nebrija said that Metro Manila mayors will have to submit their position papers regarding the proposed increase in fines on 20 September 2018. Afterwards, they will also have to convene for another MMC meeting with the MMDA.

via The Philippine Star / Robertzon Ramirez