MMDA to enforcers: No Christmas greetings, please

MANILA, Philippines - Traffic constables of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) should not greet motorists “Merry Christmas” to avoid being accused of extortion this holiday season, an official said yesterday.

“They should avoid greeting motorists ‘Merry Christmas unless the motorist greets them first,” said MMDA officer-in-charge Tim Orbos.

Orbos clarified that traffic constables who could not avoid greeting motorists will not be punished unless proven to have solicited gifts, violating the Civil Service Commission’s “no gift policy.”

He also said that the MMDA respects the call of Department of Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade for enforcers not to accept or solicit gifts during the holidays.

Meanwhile, Orbos said that a “no day off, no absent” policy will be implemented among traffic enforcers from Dec. 21 to 24.

He said the entire traffic enforcement team would be deployed to seven identified chokepoint areas in the metropolis as they expect a high volume of vehicles this Christmas season.

In the MMDA’s vehicular volume count, a total of 166,357 vehicles were recorded to have passed through EDSA in November, 3.17 percent higher than the 161,248 vehicles recorded in December 2015.

Orbos urged motorists to use alternate routes to avoid getting stuck in traffic gridlocks this Christmas.