Minglanilla to hire more traffic police

CEBU, Philippines — Additional traffic enforcers will be hired as soon as Minglanilla will have its proposed clamping and towing ordinances passed by the Municipal Council.

Mayor Elanito Peña said the town would need more traffic enforcers to implement the clamping and towing ordinances. At present, the town only have 40 personnel under the Minglanilla Traffic Commission (MITCOM).

Peña, however, said they still need to discuss how many additional enforcers will be hired. The municipal government held a public hearing last week on the proposed clamping and towing ordinances.

The proposal came following several complaints from the public about the worsening traffic condition in the municipality. Municipal officials thought that clamping and towing illegally parked vehicles along the highway would lessen the problem.

Under the proposed ordinances, illegally parked vehicles will be clamped and owners will be fined P1,000. For towed vehicles, owners will be required to pay P2,000 to P5,000. MITCOM will lead the implementation of the ordinances.

Peña said their traffic enforcers are currently concentrating traffic management on the national highway and left the interior roads to the barangay tanods.

MITCOM officer in charge Francis Sanguenza said a special unit will be created to implement the towing and clamping operations as soon as it is approved. He said they are now looking for a private towing company to partner with the municipal government.

Saguenza said they are also starting to identify chokepoints for possible designation of one way roads and avoid congestion in interior streets.

He said that traffic congestion in the town started three years ago. According to him, since last year MITCOM would have at least seven apprehensions a day. Most of those apprehended are habal-habal drivers disregarding traffic signs, reckless driving, and driving without license.

Saguenza said he already suggested before the Municipal Council to increase the penalty for traffic violators from the current P500. (FREEMAN)