Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada plans to deploy more undercover inspectors to pin down traffic enforcers of the Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau who are habitual absentees or are engaged in illegal activities.
Estrada said this is part of the new measures he would implement to sack corrupt and lazy MTPB members. He would apply a “one-strike” policy against MTPB enforcers who are lax in their job.
“The inspectors would be tasked to go around and check if the traffic enforcers are in their posts or committing unlawful actions. This way we could easily identify, gather evidence, and dismiss them,” the mayor said.
On November 28, Estrada fired 690 MTPB members after being swamped with complaints from motorists concerning their alleged extortion activities. They were temporarily replaced by the Manila Police District-Traffic Enforcement Unit (MPD-TEU) and other traffic auxiliary units.
To fill the vacated slots, the Manila Police District is retraining the first batch of 92 new enforcers whom Estrada said will be more disciplined, competent, and incorruptible.
Supt. Lucile Faycho, chief of the MPD-TEU, said the training and refresher course is focused on developing discipline, proper decorum and posture, and physical fitness. They also have classroom lectures about basic road accident investigation, rescue and first aid, and basic self defense techniques.
MTPB chief Dennis Alcoreza said they will be hiring more inspectors to boost the bureau’s Inspectorate Unit.
“Our inspectors have been roaming around checking on the traffic enforcers. We’ve found out that many traffic enforcers have not been reporting to their posts, only reporting during paydays. We list them as ‘missing in action’,” he pointed out.
Alcoreza said the inspectors go around in civilian clothes, sometimes posing as motorists and pedestrians to catch and report unscrupulous traffic enforcers.
“They are not recognized by the MTPB enforcers, they are in civilian clothes, on rotation,” he said, adding that through their reports, they could assess the performance of the traffic personnel.