City won't hire new traffic personnel

CEBU, Philippines - Despite the recent termination of 31 traffic enforcers, Mayor Tomas Osmeña said the city will not hire new traffic personnel as it is not obliged to do so.

The mayor explained that hiring new traffic enforcers is not obligatory on the part of the city because it is only helping the national government in implementing traffic rules.

However, he added that if there is a hiring from the national level, he will not oppose it.

Osmeña has earlier fired 31 CITOM personnel who were accused of allegedly collecting money from jeepney drivers in exchange for the enforcement of traffic laws.

It was reported that drivers had to “pay” P20 every time they would ply some major thoroughfares in the city to avoid being apprehended by these traffic enforcers.

Meanwhile, Councilor Sylvan Jakosalem, chairman of the City Council’s committee of transportation and communications and the presiding officer of the CITOM Board, said that another 17 traffic personnel are in danger of being fired.

But the mayor allegedly considers transferring them to the Department of Public Services to be garbage collectors.

Aside from terminating the erring traffic enforcers, Osmeña has expressed his disappointment with CITOM board for its failure to come up with a recommendation against the traffic personnel.

Ruben Rama, chairman of the Nagakahiusang Drayber sa Sugbo (NADSU), earlier alleged that the 31 traffic law enforcers, who were originally 48 on the list, collect P20 from drivers through dispatchers.

This irked Osmeña, who immediately ordered their termination after the CITOM has validated the allegations. — Johanna T. Natavio/WAB (THE FREEMAN)