Quezon City to tap high school students as traffic enforcers

MANILA, Philippines—The Quezon City government plans to tap the services of high school students in the enforcement of traffic rules and regulations, especially in areas near their schools, when classes resume in June.

According to Department of Public Order and Safety (DPOS) chief Elmo San Diego, they are planning to train students, especially at the high school level, as junior traffic enforcers.

The DPOS will set up booths in schools where interested students may sign up for the voluntary program.

San Diego said the junior traffic enforcers will act as counterparts to the junior rescuers also based in public high schools.

He the junior traffic enforcers will not be fielded in the middle of streets as that would be dangerous.

“They will help guide pedestrians, monitor parking areas, and the school’s periphery. Of course they will be watched by a barangay tanod (village watchman) or a DPOS officer,” San Diego said.

The students will be taught basic traffic signs, rules and regulations and road safety information before they are fielded as junior traffic enforcers when classes open in June.

But they will perform their duties as traffic enforcers only before and after class hours so as not to affect their studies.

San Diego made the announcement in an executive meeting with Mayor Herbert Bautista.

The DPOS official explained that by fielding the student enforcers near their schools, the officials  hope to encourage young people to follow traffic rules and road safety tips.

“This method will inculcate in our students [need for] discipline on the streets because they themselves will have the knowledge and basic training as well as experience on how to enforce traffic rules,” San Diego said.

He added, “We wish to develop their leadership capabilities and social awareness while they are still young.”

As it is a volunteer activity, the junior enforcers won’t be receiving monetary allowances but will be given uniforms and whistles to help them perform their duties.

Earlier, the DPOS conducted a road safety information drive, “Alay ni Bistek sa Mga Batang Paslit,” at Pook Libis Yakap Day Care Center and the Pook Daan Tubo Yakap Day Care Center, inside Barangay UP Campus.

This was to familiarize day-care children with road signs for their safety and protection.

San Diego explained that by making children aware of different traffic signs, they hope to make children more safety-conscious when they cross the streets.

“With the road safety program by the city government, we could instill in young minds the importance of traffic signs. That all of the signs they saw outside their houses have corresponding instruction for their safety while in the streets,” he added.