QC watchmen can now issue traffic tickets

MANILA, Philippines—Now they’ve got the bite to go with their bark.

Handpicked barangay watchmen in Quezon City who successfully completed a traffic enforcer training program can now issue ordinance violation receipts (OVRs) to motorists.

Mayor Herbert Bautista approved last month the “Barangay Traffic Enforcement Ordinance” which requires each of Quezon City’s 142 barangays to appoint up to 10 barangay public safety officers (BPSO) as traffic enforcers authorized to issue OVRs.

But before their deployment, they must first pass an examination to be given by the city government’s Department of Public Order and Safety (DPOS), according to DPOS chief Elmo San Diego. The handpicked BPSOs must also successfully complete a traffic management training program.

San Diego said that the specially trained barangay traffic enforcers would act as “force multipliers to help solve traffic problems in the barangay level.”

Authorizing them to issue OVRs, he added, would also “help them enforce traffic rules and regulations within their barangay better.”

The appointment of the “empowered” BPSO would be good for six months. Their appointment may be renewed except when the enforcer has a tainted record, San Diego said.

But he warned that should there be a complaint against any of the specially trained BPSO, an investigation would be conducted. Should the barangay traffic enforcer concerned be found guilty, his appointment would be revoked.

The “Barangay Traffic Enforcement Ordinance” was introduced by Councilors Jose Visaya and Rogelio Juan to solve the “atrocious traffic congestion” in the city.

According to the councilors, if the problem is not properly addressed, it “may cause [the] disruption [of] the financial growth in the community.”

The ordinance was passed on third and final reading by the Quezon City Council on Oct. 27. It was signed into law by Bautista on Nov. 28.