Traffic enforcers from MMDA, PNP to restore road discipline – Tolentino

MANILA, Philippines – Motorists traveling along the busy thoroughfare EDSA will now be under the watch of traffic enforcers from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Philippine National Police – Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG). 

During the MMDA’s weekly program on dzBB on Sunday, August 9, MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino said the joint deployment is expected to improve traffic management along Metro Manila’s major road artery and help ensure peace and order.

“We can see its impact in the following weeks. We are confident that this will help restore discipline and the enforcement of laws, such as the law against drunk driving and banning small children from riding motorcycles,” Tolentino said.

About 500 personnel from the agency’s traffic discipline office, motorcycle and mobile patrol units, and their PNP-HPG counterparts will be deployed in strategic areas from Balintawak to Pasay along EDSA.

Tolentino said that the move to team up with PNP-HPG personnel was prompted by reports of assaults and bullying incidents against MMDA traffic enforcers by angry motorists flagged down for traffic violations.

“The PNP will serve as strong deterrent to the unabated disregard for the law being committed by erring motorists against our unarmed enforcers and against criminal elements that prey on pedestrians, commuters and motorists along EDSA,” Tolentino said.

The MMDA chairman also said that the joint deployment will ensure that personnel from both agencies can check on each other to guard against corrupt traffic enforcers.

The traffic enforcers will be deployed along the following areas:

• Balintawak
• North EDSA
• Trinoma
• Quezon Avenue
• Monte De Piedad
• Aurora Boulevard
• Santolan
• Ortigas
• Shaw Boulevard
• Boni
• Guadalupe
• Ayala
• Magallanes
• EDSA-Taft

Personnel from the PNP-HPG are set to undergo seminars to prepare them for the deployment, MMDA Traffic Discipline Office head Cris Saruca said. – Rappler.com