Enforcer selling rice cakes recommended for promotion

MANILA, Philippines - A Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) traffic enforcer, caught on camera selling rice cakes to motorists along EDSA in Quezon City, has been recommended for promotion.

MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino said yesterday Fernando Gonzales should be emulated by other traffic enforcers as he was being creative in earning additional income instead of resorting to extortion. 

The 51-year-old Gonzales – a resident of Bagong Barrio, Caloocan – was summoned to the MMDA office yesterday afternoon. He said he only sells rice cakes on his days off and wears his uniform while peddling the native cakes, which his wife makes, in order for motorists to notice him.

“If I wear ordinary clothes, they won’t buy,” he said.

Gonzales said he sells rice cakes on Saturdays and Sundays to support the education of his sons Christian, a first year college student, and Joseph, who is in third year high school. He said he earns only P15,000 a month.

He said the money he earns from selling rice cakes also covers his sons’ allowance as well as the power and water bills.

Gonzales said he was once tempted to try extorting money from motorists but was deterred by the possibility that he would be removed from the MMDA if he is caught.

Gonzales says he could easily double his capital of P5,000 on his rice cakes, which he sells to drivers of taxis, buses and jeepneys along EDSA.