Question & AnswerQ&A (PPKM MMDA REGULATION NO. 04-003)
Republic Act No. 7924 (RA 7924) empowers the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority to set policies concerning traffic in Metro Manila and coordinate and regulate the implementation of all programs and projects concerning traffic management.
MMDA Regulation No. 04-003 aims to amend certain provisions of MMA Ordinance No. 18, Series of 1991, particularly to impose stiffer penalties for violations of the 'closed door policy' on buses along EDSA and other major bus routes in Metro Manila.
The 'closed door policy' requires that doors of moving buses remain closed in between designated stops to avoid loading and unloading of passengers except in specified loading and unloading zones.
Doors of moving buses must be properly maintained and in good physical condition. For buses with only one door, it must be kept closed except in specified zones. For buses with two doors, the front door is controlled by the driver and the back door by the conductor to ensure they are closed between designated stops.
Defective doors are doors of vehicles that cannot be closed properly even with human aid, including broken and dilapidated doors.
Physical Defects refer to defects on the body of the vehicle not classified as mechanical defects, such as defective doors or windows, broken windshield, broken suspension, broken or defective center bolts, and worn-out tires.
A fine of Five Hundred Pesos (P500.00) is imposed for loading and unloading in areas not specified as such.
A fine of One Thousand Pesos (P1,000.00) is imposed. For buses with one door, the driver is liable. For buses with two doors, the driver pays for front door violations and the conductor pays for back door violations.
A fine of One Thousand Pesos (P1,000.00) is imposed for defects such as defective non-operable doors, broken center bolt, misaligned body, etc. Failure to pay the fine within 7 days results in vehicle impoundment; continued operation without fixing defects results in a Five Thousand Pesos (P5,000.00) fine plus impounding fees.
If worn-out tires are the immediate cause of a road accident, a fine of Five Thousand Pesos (P5,000.00) will be imposed on the operator, who must replace the tires or else the vehicle will be impounded.
Passengers' fares must be refunded before asking them to disembark to avoid penalties while the vehicle is en route to the garage for repairs.
The Regulation took effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in two newspapers of general circulation in Metro Manila.