MMDA deploys traffic enforcer-manager teams

MANILA, Philippines - The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) deployed starting yesterday teams consisting of traffic enforcers and traffic managers, with each focused on either going after erring motorists or directing traffic.

MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino said most of the 800 traffic enforcers were sent to EDSA and to Manila’s Port Area yesterday. He said traffic control and management in Port Area is now the responsibility of the MMDA.

With the deployment of the 800 traffic enforcers, the MMDA also deployed 1,000 traffic managers who are tasked with directing vehicular traffic and controlling traffic signals.

MMDA Traffic Discipline Office (TDO) chief Cris Saruca said the traffic managers will be under the agency’s Traffic Management Group while enforcers tasked to enforce the traffic rules and go after drunk drivers will be under the supervision of the Traffic Enforcement Group.

“The function of the Traffic Management Group is management and control of traffic while the Traffic Enforcement Group will be the ones to apprehend violators using traffic violation tickets,” Saruca said. The traffic managers are not authorized to carry and issue traffic violation tickets to unruly motorists.

With the new setup, the traffic managers will work closely with traffic enforcers. Erring motorists will simply be stopped by the traffic managers, who will signal their companion traffic enforcers to issue the corresponding traffic violation tickets. The traffic managers are expected not to leave their positions on the streets.

Tolentino said the new setup will hopefully prove more effective for the MMDA on the Metro streets. 

He said the system would be a first for Metro Manila as even traffic enforcers of the various local government units multi-task and handle both traffic management and apprehending traffic rule violators.

More personnel needed

Meanwhile, Tolentino said the MMDA at present is running short on traffic enforcers. The unexpected deployment of some 300 traffic enforcers to direct traffic in Port Area has created a dent in the agency’s operations.

Critical areas as C5 Road and Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City are now short of MMDA traffic enforcers.

According to Emerson Carlos, MMDA assistant general manager for operations, the agency urgently needs at least 400 more traffic enforcers especially now that some 300 traffic enforcers are working in the round-the-clock shifts directing traffic in Port Area.

On an average day, MMDA traffic enforcers are only on duty from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Carlos said the hiring of additional traffic enforcers is hampered by a lack of budget and the strict qualifications set for applicants. Carlos said applicants for the job of traffic enforcers are required to have finished at least 72 units in college.

Meanwhile, starting next week, special MMDA teams equipped with alcohol breath analyzers will be strategically deployed in Metro Manila streets from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. to go after drunk motorists.

Tolentino said the MMDA had earlier bought a dozen alcohol breath analyzers. He said these will be used by the teams to be deployed against drunk drivers.

Two MMDA traffic enforcers have lodged complaints before the Quezon City prosecutors office against a female lawyer who allegedly attacked them along EDSA.