Question & AnswerQ&A (MMDA MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 05-A, S. 2011)
The rationale is to enhance traffic enforcement, improve public safety, and facilitate the identification and apprehension of public utility vehicles (PUVs) involved in traffic violations and accidents through the painting of license plate numbers on the roof, front, back, and two sides of all registered and franchised PUVs.
Vehicle Tagging or Marking means the painting of the License Plate Numbers on the roof, front, back, and two sides of Public Utility Vehicles, using prescribed color schemes for effective identification.
All registered and franchised Public Utility Vehicles (PUVs) plying major and secondary thoroughfares in Metro Manila, including City and Provincial Operation Buses, Public Utility Jeepneys (PUJs), and taxi cabs (metered or garage to terminal) are covered. Airport taxis and PUJs on short trips along local or interior roads not traversing major or secondary thoroughfares are excluded.
They refer to Highways, Avenues, Boulevards, and Streets within Metro Manila that are classified as such by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
There are ten classifications: City Operation Buses Plying EDSA — Yellow; City Operation Buses NOT Plying EDSA — Orange; Provincial Buses Plying EDSA — Red; Provincial Buses NOT Plying EDSA — Violet; Public Utility Jeepneys — Brown; Metered Taxis — Blue; Non-metered/GT/AUV Taxis — Green; School Buses — Gray/Silver; Tourist/Shuttle Buses — Pink; and Cargo Trucks — Gold.
For Public Utility Buses, School Buses, Tourist Buses, Shuttle Buses, and Cargo Trucks, the dimensions are 900 mm x 1,200 mm. For Public Utility Jeepneys, FX/Van-type Taxis, and Sedan-type Taxis, the size is 400 mm x 900 mm.
Owners/operators/franchise holders must use reflectorized paint for more visible marks or tags.
Penalties include a fine of five hundred pesos and/or a recommendation for cancellation or suspension of the franchise to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) by the MMDA.
The 'No Physical Contact Policy' allows traffic enforcement through non-contact methods such as CCTV cameras and speed guns to apprehend violations. It relates to vehicle tagging by enabling identification of violating PUVs using the painted license plate numbers captured by CCTV cameras.
PUV owners have three months from the effectivity of the Revised Implementing Guidelines to comply. Failure to comply results in sanctions including fines and/or franchise cancellation or suspension recommendations.