Top Philippine court voids LGUs’ traffic ticketing system

THE PHILIPPINE Supreme Court (SC) has barred local governments in Metro Manila from issuing traffic violation tickets and seizing drivers’ licenses, ordering them to follow the singe-ticketing system enforced by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

In a July 2023 decision made public on Tuesday, the tribunal voided a clause in 14 ordinances of cities in the capital region that empowered their own traffic enforcers to issue tickets, as it ruled the MMDA has the exclusive power to come up with road traffic policies.

“The legislative intent is already clear that the MMDA should be the central policymaking body in Metro Manila on matters relating to traffic management, and the entity charged with the enforcement of the same policies,” the court said in a 44-page decision written by Justice Alfredo Benjamin S. Caguioa.

“The law is thus clear and unambiguous,” it said.

The High Court noted that while the MMDA has no police or legislative powers, it has the “primary rule-making powers” in managing Metro Manila traffic.

It said the ruling does not undermine the autonomy of local government units (LGUs) since their interests are amply protected by the very structure of the MMDA.

Except for the MMDA chairman who is appointed by the President, the mayors of the 16 cities and the lone municipality in Metro Manila are all members of the Metro Manila Council — the governing board and policymaking body of the MMDA, it said.

“This structure breathes life to the avowed objectives of the MMDA law, which is to promote efficiency, cohesion, harmony and order in the delivery of metro-wide services such as traffic management in Metro Manila, without undermining local autonomy,” the tribunal said.

The High Court favored several transport groups that filed the lawsuit that questioned the ticketing system of the cities in 2006. The plaintiffs argued that the system violated the law that created the MMDA.

In December 2012, the Court of Appeals sided with the Metro Manila cities and rejected the appeal of the transport groups 10 months later, prompting them to elevate the case to the Supreme Court.