Online complaint system for traffic woes launched

By Robertzon Ramirez (The Philippine Star), December 3, 2016

MANILA, Philippines – The Inter-Agency Council on Traffic (IACT) launched yesterday “I Will Act,” an online portal where motorists can report traffic concerns.

In a press conference, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) officer-in-charge Tim Orbos said the public could also report traffic violations such as illegally parked vehicles, garbage-laden waterways, overloaded public utility vehicles and extortion involving traffic enforcers.

He said getting the public involved would help the government since the MMDA only has 3,000 traffic enforcers – far below the 7,000 enforcers needed to man around 1,000 road intersections in Metro Manila.

“You could see our predicament. It’s almost impossible to manage traffic with the present numbers. So our objective here is to empower the public and get the help of the private sector with this project,” Orbos said.

Motorists who want to file a complaint using the IACT’s system have to visit the MMDA’s official website (mmda.gov.ph) and fill out a complaint form and attach photos or videos.

The MMDA is a member agency of the IACT along with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, Land Transportation Office and the Highway Patrol Group.

Orbos explained that the online complaint will be forwarded to the concerned unit of the MMDA or to the concerned government agency.

He said that complainants will be notified on the status of their complaints within a week after being verified.

Asked if complainants will be required to appear if the agency holds an investigation, Orbos said that complainants’ presence is important so that “it will not be abused by anyone.”