Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Benhur Abalos Jr. met Monday 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 Lt. Col. Joshua Alejandro, head of PNP-HPG-NCR to augment the workforce of MMDA, to add visibility on Metro Manila’s major thoroughfares.

Abalos said Alejandro pledged to provide 180 HPG members to man the traffic along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (Edsa) and Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City.

Meanwhile, the MMDA is hiring additional traffic enforcers to supplement the existing manpower of the agency. The duration of hiring process is expected to be completed within three months.

“We need additional traffic enforcers to improve our traffic management efforts,” Abalos said.

The MMDA currently has a total of 2,187 traffic enforcers manning the major thoroughfares in Metro Manila. Of the total number of traffic enforcers, 25 percent 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 pandemic.

Those who do not report for work are 64 senior citizens, 25 with comorbidities, and six pregnant women.

“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 said. (PNA)