MMC to conduct consultation on stiffer penalties for jaywalking

The Metropolitan Manila Council (MMC) is planning to conduct consultations for the proposed stiffer penalties for jaywalking violations, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said Friday.

In a press conference, MMDA chairperson Romando Artes said the proposal of Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalols was briefly discussed during the MMC meeting.

“Diniscuss namin in passing pa lang kanina sinamantala namin habang nandoon si Secretary Abalos na siyang nagmungkahi nito,” Artes said.

(We discussed it in passing earlier during the meeting since Secretary Abalos, who proposed stiffer penalties for jaywalking, was there.)

“Pero sinuspend muna namin iyong pag-pass dahil we want to conduct muna consultations bago namin itaas ang penalty,” he added.

(However, the passage of the resolution for this has been suspended because we want to conduct consultation first before we increase the penalty.)

Currently, the fine for jaywalking is P500. Artes said they are considering increasing it to P1,000 with a seminar.

In September, Abalos suggested imposing stiffer penalties for jaywalking on EDSA and C-5 following some accidents.

The DILG chief encouraged the MMDA as well as concerned local government units (LGUs) to study his suggestion.

“Magsimula muna tayo doon sa mga delikadong lugar. This is EDSA, unang-una, highway. Number two, C-5. Ang bibilis ng mga sasakyan diyan,” he said.

(Let’s start with dangerous highways like EDSA and C-5. The vehicles there go very fast.)

“I just do hope that MMDA could have a study here at sana hikayatin kasi ang cover ng EDSA diyan would be Caloocan, San Juan, Quezon City, Mandaluyong, Makati, Pasay. Kung ang penalty mo ay P500 lang ba, isipin mo? Isagad mo na, i-maximum mo na o i-community service mo siya,” he added.

(I just do hope that MMDA could have a study here and encourage the concerned LGUs like Caloocan, San Juan, Quezon City, Mandaluyong, Makati, Pasay. If your penalty is just P500, increase it to the maximum or make violators do community service.)–AOL, GMA Integrated News