Metro Manila Development Authority chairman Benjamin Abalos Jr. is seeking the help of the Police-Highway Patrol Group to help the agency in managing the traffic on the major thoroughfares in the National Capital Region.
Abalos on Monday met with HPG officials and discussed issues concerning traffic management in the metropolis, particularly the lack of traffic enforcers.
He said he sought assistance from HPG-NCR commander Lt. Col. Joshua Alejandro to augment the workforce of the to add visibility in Metro Manila’s major thoroughfares.
According to Abalos, Alejandro initially pledged to provide 180 HPG members to man the traffic along Epifanio delos Santos Avenue and Commonwealth Avenue.
A recent study showed that the NCR has the second-worst traffic situation in the world among 416 cities in 57 countries. It said drivers expect to spend an average of 53 percent extra travel time being stuck in road congestion.
Meanwhile, the MMDA is now accepting individuals applying to become traffic enforcers to supplement the manpower of the agency. The hiring process is expected to be completed within three months.
“We need additional traffic enforcers to improve our traffic management efforts,” said Abalos.
The MMDA has 2,187 traffic enforcers manning the major thoroughfares in Metro Manila, and a quarter of them 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 were exempted from reporting for work due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Those not reporting for work are 64 senior citizens, 25 of them with comorbidities, and six are pregnant women.