MMDA sees road order with traffic school opening

AS PART of its efforts to restore order on Metro roads, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will open today its Institute of Traffic Management (ITM) which will conduct training programs and courses for local and national traffic enforcers.

According to MMDA Chair Francis Tolentino, the ITM will be a “premiere educational institution for training and [the] continuing education of all traffic management personnel, traffic law enforcers and accident investigators of both local and national government agencies.”

It will hand out degrees and certificates of training competency to government and nongovernment traffic personnel who complete its training programs and courses.

According to Tolentino, traffic experts from the government and private sector will start their 55-day training

today.

During the agency’s weekly Sunday radio program, ITM’s Traffic Operation Officer Annie Calaway said that among the subjects to be taught were traffic administration, investigation, accident assistance and the procedure for issuing traffic violation tickets.

“We will also offer road safety education through workshops for all road users like motorists and passengers,” Calaway added.

Tolentino, for his part, noted that the establishment also hoped to “exact compliance among motorists” by establishing a more efficient and effective traffic enforcement system and agencies link-up.

“There shall be no traffic personnel on the street who do not possess the competencies necessary to effectively perform the core functions of traffic management,” Tolentino said, noting that the ITM was expected to instill discipline in its students.

“This may be a long-term war against the negative driving habits of some of our countrymen, but I believe that the ITM will eventually be a school of hope, inspiration and pride. We [want] to make a difference. In the future, this difference will be felt, seen and noticed. This is the difference worth working for,” the MMDA chair added.

He also said that this would create a uniform traffic system in Metro Manila to be recognized by all 17 local government units.

“If we can make a draft ordinance which can be applicable to all LGUs, this can be a very cohesive ordinance,” Tolentino added.

The agency also revealed that it was planning to train traffic officers from other provinces specifically in Legazpi City, Albay, as well as in Iloilo.

Aside from training traffic personnel in Metro Manila, Tolentino said that they would also tap homeowners associations, mall operators, school administrators, businessmen and private individuals to undergo a traffic management course.

“We have not yet made the implementing rules on how much the admission fee will be for those willing to take the courses offered,” he added.

Tolentino said that even those taking National Service Training Program units in college may also cross enroll in the ITM in the near future.

“Driving schools can also avail of our courses to make them more efficient in the services they offer,” the MMDA chair said, adding that the agency would also invite trainers from other countries to teach at ITM.