Traffic builds up on Edsa as buses are restricted to the yellow lane. (File photo by GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE / Philippine Daily Inquirer)
MANILA, Philippines – Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas on Tuesday denounced as “ill-conceived” and “sexist” the deployment of a “ladies’ strike force” to ease traffic along Edsa.
The PNP-HPG recently deployed forty-eight motorcycle-riding officers to deal with traffic congestion in Metro Manila, 23 of which were assigned on Edsa and were reportedly selected based on their looks.
READ: PNP-HPG: Lady cops on motorbikes to help ease traffic
During the plenary debates on the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority’s (MMDA) 2020 budget, Brosas also slammed the MMDA Edsa traffic head Bong Nebrija’s remark that female officers deployed along Edsa were “girlfriend material” and “head turners” that could ease tension caused by the heavy traffic.
“Is this how the MMDA views women in traffic management? May kinalaman ba talaga ang deployment ng female officers sa pagpapagaan ng trapiko?” Brosas asked.
She said she strongly deplores the “unabashed display of sexism” of the HPG in their “ill-conceived bid to more effectively apprehend traffic violators” as well as Nebrija’s remarks.
“Sa pagde-deploy ng sinasabing ladies strike force, kinakahon ang papel ng kababaihan bilang pambitag sa kanilang kabiguan solusyunan ang problema sa traffic sa Metro Manila,” the Gabriela representative said.
She further said that the traffic problem was “too serious to indulge in sexism and experimental solutions.”
“Sana kahit ang MMDA will listen to this kasi ito naman ay usapin ng policy. I’m sure kayo rin po ay apektado nito. Hindi po natin gusto na ang kababaihan natin ay ino-objectify,” Brosas said.
In defending the MMDA’s 2020 budget, Quezon City 5th District Rep. Alfred Vargas said the MMDA would not tolerate discrimination nor sexist remarks.
“The MMDA as an institution categorically states that it is not its position to practice discrimination or mention any sexist remark,” he said.
He further defended the MMDA, saying that the deployment of lady officers on Edsa was not the directive of the MMDA but of the PNP-HPG.