If you’ve ever been pulled over for a traffic violation in the city of Manila, listen up. The city government says it will be erasing accumulated traffic penalties over the past seven years via a general amnesty program.
Manila City mayor Isko Moreno made the announcement yesterday via Facebook alongside an image of a pile of unclaimed driver’s licenses from 2013 onwards.
“Solusyon na ibibigay sa inyo ng pamahalaang lungsod,” Moreno said, referring to the owners of thousands of confiscated driver’s licenses being held by the City of Manila.
“Lahat ng penalties, surcharges, interest, pitong taon, anim na taon, limang taon, isang taon, pinabubura ko na. Bayaran niyo na lang ang principal.”
Moreno called on holders of the traffic violation receipts to be wise about their situation. “Balik na po kayo sa Pamahalaang Lungsond ng Maynila at pumunta kayo sa opisina ni Direktor Dennis Byahe, at kayo’y magbayad na ng inyong penalty o ng violation.”
The Mayor also took his time repeatedly calling out one motorist who accumulated P135,900 worth of penalties over the years. “Magkano principal? Dalawang bulig o dalawang libo. Dahil sa sinabi ko, yung solusyion na itong binibigay natin, ang babayaran mo na lang ay dalawang bulig.”
According to Moreno, the general amnesty program will last until the end of 2019, on December 31. Afterward, Moreno said that cases will be filed against owners of unclaimed driver’s licenses at the Metropolitan Trial Court.
If you are among the violation receipt holders Mayor Moreno is referring to, it’d probably be a good idea to take the Manila City government up on its offer—especially if you’re the “top notcher” with over P100,000 worth of violations.
Do you think this is a smart move? Let us know in the comments.
