More traffic enforcers soon in Lapu-Lapu

CEBU, Philippines – The Lapu-Lapu City government hopes to ease vehicular traffic in the city with the additional deployment of at least 30 traffic personnel this year.

Rolando Duero, executive secretary of Mayor Paz Radaza, said augmenting traffic manpower will help improve the city's traffic, especially since several events are lined up this year, including the Kadaugan sa Mactan in April, an international triathlon event in August, and the feast of Our Lady of the Rule in November.

The new personnel will also be a welcome addition to the undermanned City traffic Management Systems now that the city is preparing for the hosting of the International Eucharistic Youth Congress on January 27 and 28.

Duero said they will get new CTMS personnel from several departments of the city government.

CTMS chief Frank Brazil welcomed the city government's plan to add more enforcers to their group, saying Lapu-Lapu City is expanding.

"Sa pagkakaron, tungod sa sitwasyon nga nagkadako ang Lapu-Lapu, nagkadaghan ang sakyanan. Naka-feel na ta, kuwang ta og manpower," Brazil said.

He said among the areas where traffic enforcers are concentrated are the road in Mactan Economic Zone in Barangay Ibo and the streets in Barangay Basak going to Barangay Marigondon.

The streets near the Mandaue-Mactan Bridge and Marcelo Fernan Bridge are also under traffic watch, said Brazil.

He further shared that in the previous years, CTMS had enough traffic personnel but some of them decided to stop with their job while others were terminated.

CTMS has 103 traffic personnel, 90 of them are deployed on field, including those who are assigned in pay parking areas.  The rest are designated at the CTMS headquarters.

Brazil said the ideal CTMS personnel at present should be around 150 to 175.

He said they are now upgrading the qualifications for CTMS personnel in order to be at par with that of other local government units.

"Kung mahimo gani degree holder, pero kung wala man gani, at least college level lang. Ato i-upgrade ang atong standards sa atong traffic enforcers para as part sa (other) LGUs sa ilahang traffic management," he said.

If ever there will be new CTMS recruits, Brazil said they will be assigned either in the office or in areas where there is light traffic.

"For the first few weeks, ibutang sa sila sa dili kaayo traffic in order for them to observe," he said.

Possible areas where the new CTMS recruits will be deployed may include Barangay Babag and Barangay Canjulao.

As for compensation, CTMS workers receive more than the minimum wage, said Brazil

"Actually, they are receiving more than the minimum, because karon dinhi sa amoa, ang pinaka-minimum among local employees and mga job order workers is P440 ang daily," he said.

Asked if the new CTMS personnel will be deployed during IEC, Brazil said they are not yet advised to control the traffic for the event since they are set to undergo training and seminars first.

Lapu-Lapu City will host the IEC's Youth Congress on January 27 which is expected to be graced by at least 5,000 delegates from 71 countries who will be served with a welcome dinner by the city's local parishes.

On January 28, the delegates will flock to the Hoopsdome in Barangay Gun-ob where they assemble for the Jericho Walk from Lapu-Lapu to Mandaue City. (FREEMAN)