Abalos: MMDA hiring more traffic enforcers for Edsa

THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is hiring additional traffic enforcers to improve the traffic management in Edsa.

“We need additional traffic enforcers to improve our traffic management efforts,” said MMDA Chairman Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr.

The hiring process is expected to be completed within three months.

The MMDA currently has 2,187 traffic enforcers manning the major thoroughfares in Metro Manila.  About a fourth of the traffic enforcers are senior citizens.

Teroy Taguinod, MMDA Traffic Discipline Office head, said those in the vulnerable sector like senior citizens, pregnant women, and those with medical conditions are exempted from reporting for work due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Those who do not report for work are 64 senior citizens, 25 workers with comorbidities, and six pregnant women. The MMDA is considering offering early retirement to the senior enforcers.

“To provide economic relief and for humanitarian consideration, we will allow relatives of said traffic enforcers, who are senior citizens, to apply and submit their applications, provided that they will be able to pass the examination and training requirements,” Abalos stressed.

On Monday, Abalos met with the officials of the Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) to discuss issues concerning traffic management in the National Capital Region, particularly lack of traffic enforcers, among others.

Abalos said he sought assistance from Police Lieutenant Colonel Joshua Alejandro, head of PNP HPG NCR, to augment the work force of MMDA, with the aim of adding visibility to Metro Manila’s major thoroughfares.

According to Abalos, Alejandro pledged to provide 180 HPG members to man traffic along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue and Commonwealth Avenue.