ICYMI: Traslacion road closures, anti-colorum ops, QC bank incident show-cause order

‘No registration, no travel’ policy is back

“The holidays are over, and for the Land Transportation Office (LTO), that means the resumption of the ‘no registration, no travel policy’ effective January 2024.

“The policy, which was revived in November to force the registration of 24.7 million unregistered vehicles in the country, was temporarily put on hold over the holidays “in the spirit of Christmas.” Any apprehended vehicle owners were only given a warning during this period, but that ends this month.

“The fine for driving an unregistered vehicle is P10,000.

“Agency chief Atty. Vigor Mendoza II said, too, that a ‘more aggressive campaign against delinquent motor vehicles’ will be carried out this year, not just to recoup losses amounting to P37.1 billion from registration payments and penalties, but primarily to ensure the roadworthiness of vehicles and improve road safety.

“In December, the LTO opened fast lanes for the registration of delinquent vehicles at its offices and renewal centers. Early last year, it also rolled out online registrations via the Land Transportation Management System (LTMS) Portal.

“If your vehicle is up for renewal, here’s everything you need to know to get your LTO registration in order. If you’re not sure when exactly you need to renew your vehicle’s registration, check out this quick guide.”

Traslacion 2024: Manila City road closures and rerouting

“The Manila City local government has released the road closures and rerouting schemes for the Traslacion, the procession that takes place on the Feast of the Black Nazarene, on January 9, 2024.

“Affected roads will be closed off to motorists beginning 9pm of January 8. Check out the full list below:

Traslacion 2024: Road closures beginning 9pm of January 8

1. Bonifacio Drive from Anda Circle to P. Burgos Avenue
2. Katigbak Drive and South Drive (one lane accessible to Manila Hotel and Hotel H2O)
3. Roxas Boulevard from Katigbak Drive to UN Avenue
4. P. Burgos Avenue from Roxas Boulevard to Jones, MacArthur, and Quezon Bridge
5. Finance Road from P. Burgos Avenue to Taft Avenue
6. Maria Orosa Street from TM Kalaw Avenue to P. Burgos Avenue
7. Taft Avenue from UN Avenue to P. Burgos Avenue
8. Romualdez Street from UN Avenue to Ayala Boulevard
9. Ayala Avenue from Taft Avenue to Romualdez Street
10. C. Palanca Street from P. Casal Street to Plaza Lacson
11. P. Casal Street from C. Palanca Street to Arlegui Street
12. Legarda Street from CM Recto Avenue to Arlegui Street
13. Quezon Boulevard from Fugoso Street to Quezon Bridge
14. Westbound lane of España Boulevard from P. Campa Street to Lerma Street

For those who will be affected by the road closures on January 8 and 9, check out the following rerouting schemes:

Traslacion 2024: Rerouting for southbound vehicles

1. Southbound vehicles along Mel Lopez Boulevard (R-10) going to Roxas Boulevard: Turn left to Capulong Street then straight to Yuseco Street to Lacson Avenue and proceed to destination (old truck route)
2. Southbound vehicles along Rizal Avenue intending to utilize MacArthur Bridge going to south area: Turn left to CM Recto Avenue then left to Legarda Street and proceed to destination
3. Southbound vehicles along A. Mendoza Street going to Quezon Boulevard: Turn right to Fugoso Street then to Rizal Avenue and proceed to destination
4. Vehicles along westbound lane of España Boulevard going to Quezon Boulevard: Turn left to N. Reyes Street then to CM. Recto Avenue and proceed to destination
5. Southbound vehicles along J. Abad Santos Avenue/R. Regente going to Intramuros area: Turn right to San Fernando Street, left to Madrid Street, left to Muelle dela Industria to Binondo-Intramuros Bridge to A. Soriano Avenue, or take Juan Luna Street, turn right to Muelle Dela Industria to Binondo-Intramuros Bridge and proceed to destination

Traslacion 2024: Rerouting for northbound vehicles

1. Vehicles coming from A. Mabini Street intending to utilize TM Kalaw Avenue: Turn right to UN Avenue, straight to P. Guanzon Street to Mabini Bridge and proceed to destination
2. All vehicles coming from Maria Orosa Street intending to utilize TM Kalaw Avenue: Turn right to UN Avenue, straight to P. Guazon Street to Mabini Bridge and proceed to destination
3. Northbound vehicles along Taft Avenue going to P. Burgos Avenue: Turn right to UN Avenue, straight to P. Guanzon Street to Mabini Bridge and proceed to destination
4. Light vehicles traveling northbound along Roxas Boulevard going to P. Burgos Avenue: Turn right to UN Avenue, straight to P. Guanzon Street to Mabini Bridge and proceed to destination
5. Trucks and trailers traveling northbound along Roxas Boulevard going to Mel Lopez Boulevard (Pier Area): Turn right to President Quirino Avenue, to Mabini Bridge and proceed to destination (old truck route)
6. Trucks and trailers traveling northbound along Osmeña Highway going to Mel Lopez Boulevard (Pier Area): Turn right to President Quirino Avenue, to Mabini Bridge and proceed to destination

ALSO READ:
Traslacion 2024: Here’s the route of the Black Nazarene procession on January 9

Show-cause order issued against SUV driver, owner in QC bank incident

“It was a grim end to the year for the people involved in the Quezon City bank incident on December 29, 2023. In case you missed it, a Toyota Fortuner rammed into the Banco de Oro Novaliches–Lagro branch in Barangay Pasong Putik, Quezon City, resulting in one death and six injuries.

“The LTO has now issued a show-cause order (SCO) against the driver of the vehicle and the female registered as the vehicle owner. It has also ordered a 90-day preventive suspension of the driver’s license of the person operating the SUV during the incident.

“The SCO now mandates the driver and the registered owner to explain in writing the details leading to the accident. The driver—identified as a resident of Baliuag, Bulacan—is also being order to explain in a notarized statement why he should not be held liable for violating Joint Administrative Order 2014-01 and Section 27-B of Republic Act No. 4136.”

Illegal parking offender fails to learn lesson

“Do you remember when the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) pointed out how motorists caught for illegal parking just keep returning as soon as road-clearing operations are over? Well, here’s some proof.

“In a recent Facebook video by Gadget Addict, the MMDA was shown towing a maroon Toyota Revo that was caught illegally parked on the sidewalk somewhere in Caloocan City. While there was no official count available, this was estimated to be the fifth time that this same vehicle was towed.

“Gadget Addict also jokingly quipped in the video: ‘They might even be on a first-name basis by now, who knows?’ It’s funny, but at the same time, it doesn’t seem that farfetched, either.

“Kidding aside, it’s really alarming how car owners in Metro Manila can keep getting away with this. This isn’t the first time something like this was caught on camera, and it just goes to show that erring motorists just never learn their lesson.”

P20.8-M collected in December from anti-colorum ops

“The Department of Transportation (DOTr) reports that in December 2023 alone, the crackdown resulted in a total of P20.8 million in penalties against operators and drivers of these colorum vehicles.

“The fines imposed were P200,000 per colorum van and P1 million per colorum bus. A hefty amount, yes, but the DOTr says this was part of its efforts to prioritize road safety for its commuters. The agency is anticipating more illegal and unregistered vehicles to be exposed as it intensifies its anti-colorum operations.

“To this end, SAICT (Special Action and Intelligence Committee for Transportation) is urging the public to report any suspicious or unauthorized transportation services to the DOTr Commuter Hotline 0920-964-3687, contributing to the overall efforts in dismantling the colorum network in the metropolis.”

Bigger budget for bike lanes, pedestrian infra in 2024

“When Quezon City rolled out its new initiative to put up more protected bike lanes in its locale, our story garnered mixed reactions. But despite everything that everyone had to say on social media, one thing was clear: This was much appreciated by both cyclists and commuters alike.

“This year, we might get to see more of these protected bike lanes: Congress has just bumped the funding for the Active Transport and Safe Pathways Program (ATSPP) to P1 billion to fast-track the development of thse protected bike lanes.

“The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) initially requested Congress for a funding of P500 million, but Quezon City Representative Marvin Rillo said Congress doubled it.

“‘In the 2024 General Appropriations Law, we bumped up to P1 billion the budget for bicycle lanes with durable physical separation from mixed traffic lanes,’ Rillo said. ‘This is our way of reassuring Filipinos that cycling is a sustainable alternative mode of mobility.

“‘We are absolutely determined to promote cycling and lessen harmful motor vehicle emissions in the interest of public health,’ he added.

“The ATSPP covers not only bike lanes but also pedestrian walkways–both at-grade and elevated ones–so this could only bode well for our commuting public. Funds for other bicycle-friendly infrastructure such as bicycle racks and end-of-trip cycling and support facilities also come from this program. ”