Dancing enforcers wow spectators

First was a cha-cha number, then a hip-hop tune  “Teach Me How to Dougie” by the American group Cali Swag District.

Members of the Cebu City Traffic Operations Management (Citom) grooved to the beat and drew cheers from spectators who gathered at the Plaza Sugbu in front of Cebu City Hall for yesterday’s Cebu City 75th Charter Day celebration.

“If it will make them feel good about themselves, then we will let awareness of culture and arts fill up areas of their desire,” said Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, who enjoyed the performance.

Rama said he’s open to having  traffic enforcers  include dancing in their street routine  if this would help them be more effective.

But Citom chief Rafael Yap said the   performance by 48 Citom enforcers was just  a “fancy drill” for Charter Day.

“We do not want dancing on streets because this will distract people.  This is nice gimmick.  A good fancy drill but it may cause accidents if it’s done on the streets,” Yap said.

Yap said they came up with the dance number  as their contribution to the city’s 75th charter celebration.

About 100 Citom enforcers participated in a parade in review and parade of colors  at the Plaza Sugbu.

In a  second performance,  48 enforcers in  blue Citom shirts did a rifle drill, forming a number 75  and firing their guns as a salute.

With  rifles in one hand, they performed a cha-cha number to the tune of Cebuano ditty  “Ikid Ikid Cha-cha.”

Then they put down their rifles and  danced to the tune of “Teach Me How to Dougie.”

Rama was laughing while other spectators cheered as the enforcers gyrated and raised their hands as if directing traffic flow.

Yap said his men  practiced for a month in an open area that used to be occupied by the Regional Training School in barangay Lahug.
They rehearsed early in the morning or during weekends when traffic in the city is light.

“Maybe next year, we will also be doing something different,” said Yap.

Citom was created on Oct. 19, 1987, with the passage city ordinance no. 1264  to handle city traffic concerns.

On July 2010, Citom was made a City Hall division with the creation of the City Transport Office.