Munti LGU to deputize barangay police, train criminology interns for traffic management

In a bid to improve traffic condition in the city, the local government of Muntinlupa deputizes barangay police to apprehend traffic violators and trains criminology interns to help in traffic management.

Muntinlupa Traffic Management Bureau invited barangay police, or commonly known as barangay tanods, to undergo training and deputation.  MTMB chief Danidon Nolasco said barangay chairmen were enjoined to send members of barangay police to participate in trainings for Traffic Direction and Control and Traffic Apprehension Protocols.

Nolasco added that following these seminars will be job shadowing of the participants with traffic officers from the MTMB and a qualifying exam.

Qualified barangay police shall be given authority to issue citation tickets on specific violations regarding clearing operations such as obstruction, illegal parking, and other relevant provisions.

The deputized officers are required to submit monthly reports to the MTMB, Department of the Interior and Local Government and the locality on the status of traffic apprehensions. Members of the barangay police will be only allowed to apprehend traffic violators within their area of jurisdiction.

The deputation of barangay police in Muntinlupa serves as a pilot for the project and has been introduced in 2017.

Further, MTMB has partnered with the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Muntinlupa (PLMUN) to train criminology interns in ensuring ease of traffic flow along major thoroughfares and secondary roads.

PLMUN interns will be assigned to Anti-Jaywalking, Towing/Clamping Section, and Traffic Engineering Division of MTMB and will help constables man the traffic by educating and assisting pedestrians to cross designated lanes which lessen delays in road traffic, affecting improvement in flow.

At least 86 criminology interns are being trained by the local traffic bureau.

Mayor Jaime Fresnedi said these strategies are part of the city’s initiatives to decongest traffic in Muntinlupa and as compliance to President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive to clear all roads and sidewalks of obstructions.

Recently, the local government launched the Task Force Discipline which spearheads the conduct of operations for the removal of illegal structures, illegally-parked vehicles, and illegal vendors.