PNP-HPG: Lady cops on motorbikes to help ease traffic

MANILA, Philippines – Forty-eight motorcycle-riding policewomen have been deployed by the Philippine National Police – Highway Patrol Group  (PNP-HPG) to help ease vehicular traffic congestion in major thoroughfares in Metro Manila and other parts of the country.

Photo by Gabriel Lalu / INQUIRER.net

PNP-HPG chief Brig. Gen. Eliseo Cruz on Wednesday announced that more than 20 of the female officers, who were trained on traffic management and motorcycle safety, will help manage traffic flow along Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA).

“So ginagamit namin ‘yong training nila sa motorsiklo, lalo pa ngayon we are maximizing ‘yong presence in all major thoroughfares in Metro Manila,” Cruz said while overseeing traffic flow at the intersection of EDSA and Boni Serrano Avenue in Quezon City after presenting HPG’s All-Women Patrollers.

“Lahat ng mga patrolmen at patrolwomen na naka-assign sa opisina ay pinalabas na natin kasi […] they are expected to patrol the highway, and our unit is called the Highway Patrol Group,” he added.

According to Cruz, the advantage of fielding policewomen is the reduction of heated arguments, due to the non-confrontational nature of women.

Photo by Gabriel Lalu / INQUIRER.net

“Siguro kung ia-approach sila ng mga matitigas ang ulo na driver, kung babae ang mag-approach sa kanila eh di baka mas luluwag ang kanilang kalooban, mawawala ‘yong pagod nila lalo kung maganda pa ‘yong patrolwomen namin,” Cruz explained.

This was echoed by one of the group’s members, Pat. Judy Ann Maata, who claimed that there is a huge difference in motorists’ reception between male and female law enforcers.

“Kasi kung ‘yong lalaki, ‘pag nag-approach sila sa mga driver, parang may angas kumbaga.  Pero kung babae ‘yong mag-aapproach sa kanila, parang hindi sila magagalit sa amin, kasi may respeto din sila,” Maata, who has been with HPG for over three years, said.

“Siguro ability na namin, iba po kasi ‘yong respeto din namin sa ibang tao, kaya kung rerespetuhin natin sila, hindi sila magagalit,” she added.

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Motorists, commuters and officials have said that vehicular traffic along Edsa and many other roads and highways in Metro Manila has worsened.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) earlier linked the volume of vehicles on the road to the traffic situation and admitted that there are no new policies to address traffic on Edsa.

This has forced government to compel town mayors into clearing the streets of obstructions within 60 days.

READ: ‘Our hands are tied’: MMDA admits no new policy to ease Edsa traffic 

READ: MMDA again blames rising volume of vehicles for worsening Edsa traffic 

READ: 60-day countdown for LGUs to clear public roads starts Monday – Año

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) said in 2018 that some P3.5 billion in opportunities were lost per day because of the traffic congestion in Edsa.  As of now, various proposals have been pitched, but the MMDA is still studying the suggestions.

READ: Jica: Traffic congestion now costs P3.5 billion a day

READ: ‘Extreme’ proposal: Make Edsa one-way, southbound

READ: MMDA nixes coding by car brand on Edsa

Cruz assures that the policewomen are well-equipped with motorcycle skills, like maneuvering through heavy traffic to respond to incidents.

“Kailangan natin ng skill ng mga magagaling na nagmomotor dito sa traffic-congested roads para naman mabilis silang makaka-responde sa crime incidents, anti-carnapping operations, and even here in traffic direction,” he said.

“Dapat ready silang mag-respond sa anumang crime situation, kasi pulis kami, babae man o lalaki, ito ‘yong tinatawag na gender equality or women empowerment,” he added. /gsg/muf