The Las Piñas taxi drivers will also be tapped for relief operations during calamities and in responding to emergency situations, particularly bringing victims of car accidents and crimes to the hospital.
Las Piñas City Mayor Vergel ‘Nene’ Aguilar said the taxi drivers will be identified as civilian anti-crime and disaster volunteers and will function in close coordination with the local Philippine National Police (PNP) under city police chief, Superintendent Pete Sanson.
To avoid abuse of their function, Mayor Aguilar said that the deputized TAKDA members will be issued proper identification and car stickers which shall be conspicuously displayed.
Aguilar further explained that the identification issued to TAKDA members and their being volunteers does not exempt them from being fined when they are caught violating traffic rules and regulations.
In a memorandum of agreement signed by TAKDA officers and the local police, the taxi drivers committed their time and resources to help the in crime busting through surveillance and information gathering.
Aguilar said that the mobilization of the taxi drivers is one effective measure in curbing crimes like illegal drug-trafficking.