The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Technical Working Group (TWG) of the Metro Manila Council (MMC) have agreed to come up with a Uniform Ticketing System (UTS) to be used by the agency and all traffic personnel of the local government units (LGUs).

In an effort to consolidate traffic measures within the metropolis, the implementation of the UTS was one of the main issues discussed during the MMC meeting attended by mayors and representatives the other day.

“We will now be using a common ticket which shall contain the logo of the MMDA and the LGUs concerned,” MMDA chairman Oscar Inocentes said.

The members of the TWG, through a series of meetings, are one in agreement that there is a need to use a single ticket in Metro Manila, despite conflicts in some major areas of concern.

TWG’s initial undertaking is to come up with a common ticket to be used by the MMDA and all LGUs, based on a Memorandum of Agreement between the Department of Transportation and Communications and MMDA signed in 1995 which states that “the Traffic Violation Receipt (TVR) of the MMDA shall be the single ticketing system for Metro Manila.”

But instead of TVR, the proposed new uniform ticket will be called Ordinance Violation Receipt (OVR) and will be printed by the MMDA.

Earlier, Inocentes ordered the creation of a TWG, composed of representatives from the local government units (LGUs) and the MMDA, to resolve various issues and problems concerning the proposed implementation of the UTS.

Transport groups have been strongly pushing for the use of a common ticket as it will be beneficial for them. Once the UTS is implemented, drivers can no longer be cited for “failure to carry license” as the OVR will be recognized by all LGUs as a temporary license.

In the past, transport groups and organizations have called the attention of the MMDA on situation when a driver is apprehended and his license confiscated through the LGUs OVR and whenever the same driver is apprehended by an MMDA enforcer, he would then be cited for “failure to carry license” because the agency only recognizes the TVR as a temporary driver’s license.

However, the TWG has yet to come up with a final proposal on matters of fines and penalties, manner of apprehension and payment, and deputation of traffic enforcers.

“The MMDA is amenable to the proposed 30 percent revenue sharing to cover only the cost of printing and administrative expenses,” the MMDA chief said.

Angelito Vergel de Dios, executive director of the Traffic and Transport Management Office, said that existing TVRs will still be used by the MMDA.