Transport leader: Makati traffic enforcers highest paid in Metro

A traffic enforcer in Makati is earning more than an executive in commission courtesy of the Ordinance Violation Receipts (OVR) which gives them up to a certain percentage of the amount of the fines imposed on traffic violators in the city, a transport leader said.

Orlando Marquez, president of the Makati based jeepney association told Land Transportation Office chief Alberto Suansing that he got a report that one Makati traffic enforcer gets a hefty P80,000 commission for fines of various traffic violations in the city.

Marquez said an obstruction to traffic violation which has only P150 fine in the land transportation code would cost a motorist P1,500 fine in Makati.

Stiff traffic fines in Makati force drivers to declare their license lost and get a new one at the LTO which only cost over P300. Reports reaching the LTO said that confiscated drivers’ licenses are piling up in Makati and other local government units.

Marquez, who is also the spokesman of the transport umbrella group said similar situations prevail in other local government units where they have their own traffic management ordinance.

During the meeting, transport leaders in Pasay City also aired the same complaint that traffic enforcer – because of the incentives given to them are pre-occupied in apprehending traffic violators rather than direct the smooth flow of traffic in their areas of assignment.

What is worse the transport leader said is that if a driver would question his apprehension, the traffic enforcer would issue more traffic violation receipts increasing the amount of the fines on the poor drivers.

“We have no way to turn to. We are being held hostage by traffic enforcers,” one leader said.

Suansing said he will bring the problem of the drivers to the attention of the national government. He said the commission given to traffic enforcers is a form of incentive but it is limited to a certain extent, hence it should not exceed the basic salary of traffic enforcers.

The LTO chief said the legality of the issuance of OVR is still pending in court. However, President Arroyo issued an executive order which orders for a review of all ordinance related to the transport sector enacted by LGUs all over the country.

Transport officials expressed confidence that the Presidential directive may pave the way for the review of the excessive fines and the implementation of a uniform traffic violation fine as provided for in the Traffic Code of the Philippines.