No vacation leave for traffic enforcers

CEBU, Philippines — Over 400 traffic enforcers are not allowed to take vacation leave in preparation for the upcoming Holy Week.

Cebu City Transportation Office operations chief Francisco Ouano said starting April 8 until April 21, traffic aides are barred from availing of vacation leave since they will monitor the traffic situation for the Holy Week.

Ouano said this is not the first time that they implemented the no vacation leave scheme as this has been an annual policy of CCTO.

Even though they are not expecting a heavy traffic during the observation of the Holy Week, they prefer to be ready in case they will need more personnel on the streets.

As early as now, Ouano has started giving assignments to the over 400 traffic enforcers. Most of them are assigned in identified busy streets in the city.

Among the busy streets are Colon St., Natalio Bacalso Avenue, MJ Cuenco Avenue, Osmeña Boulevard and Gorordo Avenue.

The duty hours of the traffic aides are from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 10 a.m.

CCTO expected traffic congestion on Maunday Thursday and Good Friday from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Ouano advised the drivers to follow traffic rules so that they will not be slapped with fine based on their violations.

"Mo-follow lang gyud sila para dili sila maisyuhan og citation tickets or ma-impound ilahang sakyanan," he said. (Let us follow traffic rules to avoid getting citation tickets or having their vehicles impounded.(FREEMAN)