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Friday, March 29, 2024

Erap begs Manila traffic officers to shape up

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Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada has implored traffic enforcers of the Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau to stay away from illegal activities that would only harm them and the motoring public and corrode the image of the city.

In his message to the 82 traffic enforcers who graduated from an extensive retraining course Wednesday at the City Hall, Estrada said he expected each graduate to “become a model of public service and utmost dedication to duty.”

“You all have felt what’s like losing your job, your source of income. But now that you have successfully completed this training course, I expect every one of you to become a professional, God-fearing, and competent public servant. Stay away from corruption that would only tarnish your image and that of our city,” Estrada told the MTPB enforcers.

“I hope you all learned from your mistakes,” he added.

The retraining was ordered by Estrada on Nov. 28 after he terminated the work contracts of 690 traffic personnel of MTPB in anger due to numerous complaints of extortion and other illegal activities.

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Since then, the mayor kept close watch on their retraining, to ensure that that they would shed their old ways. Those with notorious records were given their walking papers, Estrada said.

The retraining was handled by the Manila Police District-Traffic Enforcement Unit and was focused on developing discipline, proper decorum and posture, and physical fitness. The trainees also had lectures about basic road accident investigation, rescue and first aid, and basic self defense techniques.

Only 200 more will be rehired from the original 690-strong MTPB, according to bureau chief Dennis Alcoreza.

He said all 82 graduates will be deployed starting Monday, January 23, around the De La Salle University (DLSU) campus in Taft Avenue, the DLSU-Taft Avenue-Vito Cruz area, and adjoining roads designated as “Pook Kaayusan” or traffic discipline zone.

The enforcers will work in two shifts, from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. Each shift will have 41 personnel to man traffic and apprehend traffic violators, Alcoreza added.

Estrada earlier warned that he will impose a “one-strike” policy on any MTPB traffic enforcers who will again be involved in any illegal activity.

To discourage them from extorting motorists, he raised the basic pay of Job Order traffic enforcers from P6,000 to P10,000 a month.

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