By JC BELLO RUIZ
Transport groups expressed optimism yesterday that they would get at least a 60-day temporary restraining order (TRO) against the Ordinance Violation Receipt (OVR) of Metro Manila local government units from the Court of Appeals while their petition for injunction and mandamus against the traffic scheme is being heard.
Vigor Mendoza, president and legal counsel of Isang United Transport Koalisyon (1UTAK), a coalition of jeepney and bus drivers and operators’ groups, said the Court of Appeals’ 17th Division directed 15 Metro Manila mayors last Jan. 15 to file a comment on why a TRO should not be granted against the OVR.
Last month, the transport groups filed a case against all mayors of the cities and towns in Metro Manila except Valenzuela and Marikina which do not implement the OVR.
Also named respondents in the case were the Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC), Land Transportation Office (LTO), and the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA).
Mendoza, who received a copy of the order last Wednesday, said if the mayors submit their comment within 10 days, and the transport groups are given five days to submit their reply to the comment, they expect that by next month, they would get a decision on their plea for a TRO from the Court of Appeals.
He said the transport groups filed the petition for injunction based on their contention that the OVR implemented separately by the Metro Manila LGUs, except Marikina and Valenzuela, was in violation of the charters of both the LTO and the MMDA.
LTO’s charter, Mendoza said, states that the LTO is the only government agency authorized to issue driver’s licenses and temporary operator’s permit.
LGUs cannot issue such permit unless authorized by LTO based from its charter, Mendoza said.
On the other hand, he said, the MMDA’s charter states that there should only be one traffic ticketing system in Metro Manila.
The mandamus part of the petition, Mendoza said, is for the MMDA and the Metro Manila mayors to be directed to come up with a single ticketing system for Metro Manila.
The separate ticketing schemes mandating different set of fines for traffic violators implemented separately by LGUs, the LTO, and the MMDA have caused confusion among motorists, transport groups said.
The transport groups said they want a unified traffic ticketing system that is fair and reasonable to all motorists.
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