Senator Raffy Tulfo asked the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to explain why their motorcycle units or “hagad” meant to apprehend traffic violators are not being used, stressing lack of public visibility.
During the budget deliberations of the Committee on Finance chaired by Senator Grace Poe recently, MMDA said they have 108 motorcycle units allotted for the motorcycle riding academy.
“Hindi dapat ginagamit para sa pagte-train ng sinumang tao na gustong matutong magmaneho ng motorsiklo.”
Tulfo was surprised, saying, “dapat ang mga ito ay ginagamit ng kanilang mga traffic enforcer sa pagbabantay at pagsasaayos sa traffic pati na sa pagtugis sa mga pasaway na motorista. At hindi para sa pagte-train ng sinumang tao na gustong matutong magmaneho ng motorsiklo.”
MMDA, however, clarified that they have motorcycle units that are being used to respond to emergencies and to apprehend violators which are scattered in different streets of Metro Manila.
The agency prompted the legislator to ask MMDA for the specific location where the traffic enforcers with said motorcycle units are stationed, but they struggled to give the exact answer for his question.
“May napapansin nga akong mga MMDA enforcer na nagmamando ng traffic sa mga kalsada at may mga nakaparadang motorsiklo sa tabi nila ngunit ang mga ito ay mukhang kanilang mga personal service,” the lawmaker said.
“May napapansin ako na mga hagad nila na ginagamit na pang-escort ng civilian VIPs at pagsama sa personal events ng mga pribadong indibidwal.”
“Ang gusto ko kasing malaman ay kung nasaan na ang kanilang mga big bike dahil ni minsan ay hindi ko nakita ang mga itong ginagamit para sa pagtugis halimbawa ng mga pasaway na motorista o yung mga tumatakas na mga violators sa EDSA busway. May napapansin ako na mga hagad nila na ginagamit na pang-escort ng civilian VIPs at pagsama sa personal events ng mga pribadong indibidwal,” the senator added.
He also called out MMDA for their traffic enforcers’ failure to use bodycam while on duty which could protect both motorists and enforcers. MMDA claimed they currently have 100 bodycams.
The MMDA promised to fix their system and use motorcycles and bodycam properly. They also vowed to provide a list of places to the Senate Finance Committee where their traffic enforcers with motorcycle units will be deployed.
