Congress suspends enforcement of Anti-Distracted Driving Act

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) will zero in on informing the public about the provisions of the Anti-Distracted Driving Act (ADDA) as its enforcement was ordered suspended by Congress yesterday.

Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Spokesperson Aileen Lizada confirmed that the law enforcement agencies under the DOTr will halt temporarily the implementation of Republic Act 10913 after their meeting with the members of the House Committee on Transportation.

“We will abide with the authors of the law, and the Committee on Transportation, DOTr will focus more on info dissemination and will hold the enforcement of ADDA,” she told reporters yesterday afternoon.

Lizada said key officials were still discussing when to re-implement the law.

The meeting was called to order, following public outcry over the implementation of the ADDA last Thursday.

Even senators appealed for ADDA’s suspension in order to look into its “confusing” provisions.

Under the law, the Department of Transportation (DOTr), Land Transportation Office (LTO), Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), and the PNP Highway Patrol Group (HPG) shall apprehend motorists, both of private and public utility vehicles, who use their mobile phones and other gadgets while driving or when stopped at traffic lights, unless they apply its hands-free functions.

Earlier, transport officials said they will start penalizing on May 27 drivers who will be caught violating the new law.

Violators shall be penalized with fines ranging from P5,000 to P20,000 and licenses may be suspended or revoked.

Lizada said the DOTr is scheduled to release its decision today after a review.

Meanwhile, Lizada said the LTFRB will issue a separate memorandum circular for PUVs addressing the confusion on the other accessories not covered by the ADDA.

“After we address ADDA, LTFRB will issue an MC for PUVs,” she said.

LTO Chief Edgar Galvante said earlier that they have no authority to suspend the implementation of the ADDA.

Galvante emphasized that neither the LTO nor the DOTr can halt ADDA because they were only tasked to enforce it.

“LTO is only one of the agencies mandated by the law and it has no authority not to abide by its tasks,” he said.