MANILA, Philippines ? If you don?t see traffic enforcers on the streets as often as you want to, it?s because there are fewer of them these days.

According to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, it is missing the services of some 700 traffic enforcers who have opted for early retirement.

But the agency assured the public that it is trying to make up for the manpower shortage through the strategic deployment of traffic enforcers.

?For instance, if there used to be four men at an intersection, we will now deploy two,? MMDA General Manager Robert Nacianceno said. He added that the agency has 1,200 enforcers on duty.

The official said 700 traffic enforcers have left the agency in the past two months and were among hundreds of MMDA personnel who applied for early retirement as part of the government?s drive for employee rationalization.

According to Nacianceno, the MMDA is now processing hundreds of applications for the vacancies. ?Right now, we have about 300 who passed our qualifications,? he said. Applicants should have two years of college education and a height of at least 5?4? for women and 5?6? for men.

The traffic enforcer positions were among the 4,000 vacancies announced by the MMDA late last year, including those for operators of cranes and other heavy equipment, mechanics, welders, drivers, gardeners and carpenters. Graduates of mechanical engineering or architecture courses are also needed.

The prospective new hires are expected to perform tasks related to the MMDA?s programs, including its ambitious ?Metro Gwapo? beautification project, among others.