MANILA, Philippines - The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) traffic enforcer who was caught on a viral video while selling kakanin to motorists along EDSA in Quezon City has been recommended for promotion.
MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino said traffic enforcer Fernando Gonzales should be emulated by the other traffic enforcers as he was being creative in earning added income instead of resorting to extortion.
The 51-year-old Gonzales – a resident of Bagong Barrio, Caloocan - who was summoned to the MMDA office on Monday afternoon, said he only sells rice cakes on his rest days over the weekend. Gonzales said he wears his uniform while peddling the rice cakes which his wife makes in order for motorists to notice him.
“Naka-uniform ako kasi 'pag nakaordinaryong damit po ako hindi naman po sila bibili e,” said Gonzales.
“Actually po hindi ko naman po iyon sinasabay sa trabaho. During day off lang po Tuwing Saturday at Sunday lang po. Monday to Friday puro trabaho lang po yun. Wala po akong iniisip nun kung hindi mapaluwag lang po yung trapik. Kaya naman po ako nagtitinda para po makatulong sa aking may bahay, sa aking mga anak sa kanilang pag-aaral. Nung sinabi po ni misis na marunong siyang gumawa ng kakanin naisip ko po na baka pwedeng magbenta po ako,” said Gonzales.
Gonzales said he has to earn extra to support the education of his sons Christians who is now a college freshman and Joseph, a third year high school student. Gonzales said he only earns P15,000 a month.
“Yung pong pagtitinda ko nasasagot niya po yung pang-araraw araw na baon ng mga bata, pati po yung bayad sa tubig at sa ilaw. Bali po yung nakukuha ko po ngayon, pang emergency po namin yun,” he said.
Gonzales said he was once tempted to try extorting cash from motorists but was deterred by the possibility that he would be removed from the MMDA if caught.
“Sa kalagayan po namin, hindi na po uso iyon (extortion). Konting pagkakamali mo lang, tanggal ka na. Minsan po natukso ako, pero naisip ko na huwag na lang po,” he said.
Gonzales said he could easily double his capital of P5,000 on his rice cakes which he sells to drivers of taxis, buses and jeepneys along EDSA.