MMDA to weed out DUI violators in random checkpoints on EDSA

MANILA: The MMDA (Metropolitan Manila Development Authority) will be putting up random checkpoints in the coming days specifically designed to test the blood alcohol level of drivers, especially during curfew hours, in order to reduce the number of accidents along EDSA.

“Nung kinompute namin mula sa accidents na yan, lalong lalo na yung sa mga barrier nga, kadalasan kung hindi naka-inom, nagte-text (When we analyzed these accidents, specifically those involving concrete barriers, more often than not they were drunk or texting),” said Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) general manager Arturo “Jojo” Garcia.

According to the MMDA, there have been around 100 accidents involving the concrete barriers on the EDSA Busway which were caused by private vehicles.

“(Around) 200,000 vehicles ang dumadaan diyan araw-araw. In 30 days nasa six million yan. Ilang months na, pero ang aksidente less than 100 (There are 200,000 vehicle plying EDSA daily. In 30 days, that’s six million. It has been several months, but there have been only 100 accidents),” added Garcia.

No firm plans have been laid out just yet regarding the random checkpoints but Garcia said it will most likely be done during curfew hours and manned by the Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine National Police- Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) , the Land Transportation Office (LTO), and the MMDA. All checkpoints will be equipped with breath analyzers.

Violators will face criminal charges and possible jail time under Republic Act No. 10586 or the Anti-Drunk and Drugged Driving Act of 2013.

“Kung kaya natin kasuhan, ipakukulong natin kapag ikaw ay naging guilty dito sa mga sinasabi ko na violations na to. Lalong lalo na yung pag-inom ng alak (If possible, we will file criminal charges they’ll go to jail if found guilty. Especially for DUI),” said Garcia.

Photo from the DOTr Facebook page

Also read: PNP data shows DUI main cause of collisions with EDSA busway barriers