Traffic aides get break

Disgruntled traffic enforcers of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) were given a peace offering by Chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr. who promoted them as co-equals or superior in rank to their Philippine National Police counterparts.

In an interview yesterday, Abalos said that the MMDA enforcers would be given ranks in order to remove the image of superiority of the PNP-Traffic Enforcement Group over their civilian counterparts.

The ranking would be based on the service record of the traffic enforcers as well as their performance at work.

By promoting the traffic enforcers, some of them would, in effect, have superiority over a number of PNP-TEG enforcers.

Several of the MMDA traffic enforcers were very unhappy over the recent turn of events.

Abalos recently adopted a unified traffic control command with Senior Superintendent Vicente Raval of the PNP-TMG having jurisdiction over the enforcement side and MMDA Traffic Operations Center Executive Director Ernesto Camarillo over management.

He explained that the decision was made to eliminate the distinction between the police and non-police aspects of traffic enforcement.

"Despite the differences in colors of our uniforms, in our group leaders, we are still one in our purpose to make traffic management in Metro Manila efficient and effective," Abalos said.

On top of the promotions, Abalos also promised the traffic enforcers a 25-percent share of apprehension revenues.

Presently, the traffic enforcers are given only 15 percent. The traffic enforcers asked Abalos for hazard pay which they feel is necessary in their line of work.

However, Abalos noted that the 25-percent share would be a better alternative than hazard pay.

The 25-percent share will be tackled by the Metro Manila Council in its next regular meeting.

Abalos has been meeting with all field personnel of the MMDA, starting with the Metro Aides two weeks ago. The meetings are meant to foster a better relationship between the MMDA chairman and his subordinates.

During yesterday’s meeting, traffic enforcers from all of the local government units in Metro Manila also joined MMDA personnel.