The Muntinlupa Traffic Management Bureau will be deputizing barangay police officers or “tanods” in its traffic operations starting December.
Through a memorandum of agreement, Barangay Tunasan police officers shall be deployed to augment traffic management along barangay roads. Barangay Police Officers can apprehend and issue tickets to traffic violators, particularly illegally-parked and stalled vehicles.
Tunasan’s tanods will be trained by the MTMB on traffic rules, regulations, and road trafficking techniques.
Mayor Jaime Fresnedi hopes the initiative will improve traffic conditions in the city, especially its barangay road network.
“Muntinlupa LGU supports the national government’s drive of clearing the country’s roads of illegally parked and stalled vehicles obstructing the free flow of traffic,” Fresnedi added.
The tanods will be deputized for six months and may be renewed after passing the written and actual examination to be administered by the Traffic Bureau, the mayor said.
Deputized barangay police officers shall submit monthly reports to MTMB, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, and the city government on the status of apprehensions.
Public Information Officer Tez Navarro said the deputation in Tunasan will serve as a pilot project for the project. Other barangays are also encouraged to train with the Traffic Bureau, she added.