Rama OKs P3.4M for CITOM's communication's equipment

CEBU, Philippines - Mayor Michael Rama has already approved the request for P3.4 million allocation for the purchase of communication equipment for city’s traffic enforcers to improve their performance.

The Cebu City Council earlier passed the resolution authored by Councilor Richard “Ritchie” Osmeña, chairperson of the Committee on Traffic Management, to buy a new UHF-FM repeater system, 200 UHF handheld radio sets and 200 spare batteries for the City Traffic Operations Management (CITOM).

Osmeña, a member of the CITOM Board, said the problem on lack of quality communication gadgets of the traffic enforcers has been brought up in one of their meetings, prompting him to propose a resolution for the purchase of the needed equipment.

CITOM board chairman, Sylvan “Jack” Jakosalem, said that although there are some 350 CITOM personnel, only 280 of them are detailed on roads of the city to enforce traffic laws.

Jakosalem added that once the city purchases the 200 UHF hand held units, the rest of the traffic enforcers will continue to use the old communication equipment that are still good.

“The lack of communication is one of the biggest problems we have in traffic management and responding to emergency cases and to respond to traffic congestion reports,” Jakosalem said.

He further explained the lack of communication gadgets by traffic enforcers often cause delay in their responding to road accidents.

He added the most dispersed and most visible government personnel are the CITOM enforcers. He said the communication equipment will also be of big help in reporting crimes, fires, and other non-traffic related matters.

“When criminals are making a getaway we can also help in monitoring their locations and travel directions,” said Jakosalem. (FREEMAN)