The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is set to impose higher prescribed fines for motor vehicles violating the exclusive bus lane or bus carousel lane regulation along EDSA.
This comes after the Metro Manila Council (MMC) approved the MMDA Regulation No. 23-002 series of 2023 dated Oct. 6 but released only on Oct. 25.
The memorandum stated that numerous private vehicles, motorcycle riders, and other unauthorized motor vehicles "continue to disregard the policy" despite MMDA having issued constant warnings and reminders that motor vehicles are not allowed in the yellow bus lanes.
"As MMDA record shows, these intentional disregards of the rules had in many instances resulted to loss of life and limb," it added.
Dagdag-multa sa mga pasaway sa EDSA Carousel, aprub sa Metro Manila Council | RH 52 @ednielparrosa#RapidoHatawBalita#SamaSamaTayoPilipino
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The following fines and penalties shall now be imposed on erring motor vehicles:
- 1st offense - ₱5,000
- 2nd offense - ₱10,000, one-month suspension of driver's license and required to undergo road safety seminar
- 3rd offense - ₱20,000, one-year suspension of driver's license
- 4th offense - ₱30,000, recommendation to LTO for revocation of driver's license
"If the violator refuses to stop when flagged down by a traffic enforcer, with manifest intention to flee, or evade the apprehension, the ofense shall be automatically treated as if it was his/her 3rd offense and shall be meeted the penalty corresponding therefor (except when it is the 4th offense)," the order reads.
The new fines and penalties shall be "effective immediately after its public in two newspapers of general circulation and submission of a copy thereof with the Office of the National Administrative Register, U.P Law Center."
In a press statement, MMDA acting chairman Don Artes said the "penalty is not anti-poor nor a money-making scheme."
"Based on our data and observation, there are those who are willing to pay the P1000 fines and violated the exclusivity of the bus lane because they can afford it… kalimitan kotse ng mayayaman,” he said.
Artes said there would be an "information campaigns" before the full implementation of the new fines and penalties.
“We will assess first the situation of Metro Manila roads from November 6 to 12, after the return of vacationers from the provinces for the Undas break. We expect 15 to 20% additional vehicle volume as the holiday nears, that’s the time we will decide whether or not to implement the 7 am to 7 pm number coding scheme in Metro Manila," he said.
