Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 5) — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority clarified on Monday that the 2019 Commission on Audit report on its unregistered vehicles has included those which were already up for disposal and repair.
CNN Philippines’ AC Nicholls contributed to this report.
In its report for 2019 issued last week, the Commission on Audit flagged the 399 MMDA service vehicles without Land Transportation Office registration.
State auditors previously questioned the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority’s use of unregistered vehicles in its operations.
COA found that most of these need repair for defective parts. Some vehicles were still under the names of previous owners.
“As one of the implementing agencies for traffic enforcement, MMDA should act as a role model for the public and to follow strictly with rules and regulation prescribed by LTO for motor vehicle renewal/registration,” COA said.
“The unregistered vehicles cited in the report were a mix of MMDA assets,” MMDA spokesperson Celine Pialago said during the Laging Handa briefing. “May mga sasakyan po na naka-line up for repairs pending sa delivery ng parts, may mga vehicles din na na-auction na…at meron ring mga unused vehicles na nasa proseso na ho ng disposal, hindi na kailangang register.”
[Translation: The vehicles were lined up for repairs pending the delivery of their parts, while others where already auctioned off…there were also unused vehicles that were already up for disposal, hence they need not be registered anymore.]
“Aging of motor vehicles owned by MMDA revealed that majority of them had already exceeded their useful life,” the report read.
“Wala hong makikita ang ating mga kababayan na kahit anong uri ng MMDA vehicle sa kalsada na hindi po rehistrado,” Pialago stressed.
[Translation: The public will not see any type of MMDA vehicle on the street that is unregistered.]
Over ₱320 million worth of vehicles were purchased by the agency for the past three years, Pialago said.
She added that they have also launched investigation on those involved in reported unnecessary expenses within the agency. They are also coordinating with COA for their other recommendations.
“Rest assured that the agency will act on these accordingly,” she said.
